Cameroon English language and Literature Teachers'Associaton - Camelta

ting regional ELT associations into a network, each becoming a chapter of the national parent body. It provides a platform for the upgrading and recycling of teachers. Goals: CAMELTA aims to improve the quality of English language teaching and learning and to promote high standards of in-service language teacher training in Cameroon. Mission: The association provides a forum for the upgrading and recycling of teachers as a gateway to improve quality teaching and thus provide better results in our classrooms. CAMELTA offers a regular forum for the introduction and exchange of new pedagogic practices, and ideas and the production of teaching materials and other resources. It gives support to English language teachers in the form of workshops, in-service training, scholarship opportunities and professional development. Vision: Break down the isolation that teachers experience both in their classrooms and their schools so as to promote cooperation and mutual support, sharing of skills for mutual empowerment and networking. Build up a body of English language and literature teachers who meet professional standards and provide high standards of English language teaching and learning in Cameroon. Actions:
- Invigorate and build on the strengths of local chapters and encourage exchange of best ELT practices nationwide
- Give support to English language teachers in the form of capacity building workshops and in-service training
- Recruit more members and keep old members active so as to better sustain the association
- Send delegates to conferences in order to build up international links and experience
- Hold an annual convention that will rotate in regions
- Publish a CAMELTA newsletter which will keep chapters abreast of ELT news, events and new trends in education

Activities: CAMELTA carry out most of its activities at branch and regional chapter levels. Each chapter is made of branches at divisional level and is headed by a regional executive committee. Branches regularly meet in schools which have CAMELTA members for pedagogic exchanges and in-service training. Chapters are autonomous in planning, implementing and funding their local activities and regularly report to the national desk. All regional meetings combine capacity building activities featuring professional presentations of topics relevant to ELT. Within a year CAMELTA chapters carry out many capacity building seminars and thus train thousands of teachers all over the nation. All regional chapters come together in an annual capacity building event, which is a National Congress that holds in August every year. The Annual Congress is a four day pedagogic jamboree which brings together more than 300 participants , amongst which are outstanding ELT practitioners, delegates from the ten regional chapters, the national executive committee and English language and literature teachers nationwide. Featuring in the agenda are a key note address by a guess speaker, a series of presentations in plenary sessions and about 30 workshops. Camelta also holds its annual general meeting after the congress. Membership: all teachers of English (language and literature) at primary and secondary levels are eligible. They need to register at branch level, pay a membership token fee and get a membership card and number at national level that will open their access to many privileges. Structure
- Nation executive committee
- Regional executives and chapters
- Regional pedagogic inspectors as advisors and support
- Divisional executive and branches
- National executive meetings before and after the congress
Support :
- Most of work is done within our chapters and branches. They carry out activities at local levels, involving the remotest areas of our country and those teachers who sometimes have never received a pedagogic adviser in their schools or classes for feedback on the content of their teaching.

- Capacity building and training is done by old hand teachers most of whom are volunteers and benevolent practitioners.

- Financial support mainly comes from contributions of Camelta members and partners. For years CAMELTA has received some external support from some four main partners in terms of technical advice, financing of some of our activities, projects, international trips and providing guest speakers to our congresses. Achievements :
- Trainings seminars and workshops nationwide for thousands of teachers at divisional and regional levels;
- Integration of gender sensitive and child friendly approaches in ELT;
- 14 national congresses held since 2001 with an attendance of more than 300 participants each, with Delegates attending from the 10 regions of Cameroon and international guests speakers invited from abroad.
- A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the Ministry of Secondary Education in 2006.
- A Tesol Symposium held in 2013,
- A Spelling Bee competition organized in collaboration of the US Embassy in Cameroon in 2014;
- Training and professional development opportunities offered to active members outside Cameroon;
- Affiliation to TESOL and IATEFL and Networking with international professional organisations.
- Developing more partnerships. Challenges :

- Enrolling effective active members ;
- Sustaining the association and keeping it to international standards ;
- Getting effective support from our umbrella ministries of education
- Solving financial difficulties, raising funds for our national activities and local projects remain great challenges for the association. Projects and programmes extending over several years
- Organization of the annual congress
- Publication of a CAMELTA newsletter
- Publication of a CAMELTA post congress journal to share best practices in ELT and outstanding presentations
- Regional Capacity building seminars on human rights and peace education and other global issues (protection of the environment, adolescent reproductive health, HIV /AIDS, etc….)
- Training and capacity building workshops for students teachers(ENS/ENIEG)