Former architecture students of the Foumban Institute of Fine Arts of the University of Dschang recently organized a conference on building educational facilities in Cameroon. The conference, held on October 17, 2026, addressed the acute shortage of classrooms, overcrowded learning spaces, and reliance on makeshift shelters. The Association of Architects Made in Foumban, AMF LIVE, led by Abdou Manassé, proposed solutions to reshape the future of learning environments across Cameroon's diverse geographic regions.
The conference, themed "Architecture and Sustainable Innovation: Bio-based and Recyclable Materials for the Cameroonian School," aimed to move beyond mere observation of the crisis. The panel emphasized that a school building is more than four walls and a roof; it requires a holistic approach encompassing spatial quality, thermal and climatic comfort, cost efficiency, low maintenance, and long-term environmental resilience. This approach is crucial in addressing the pressing national challenge of providing adequate educational facilities.
UNESCO's 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report highlights that Cameroon's education system faces disruptions from security crises, population displacements, and significant equipment and infrastructure gaps. In many regions, children are taught in poorly lit, overheated, or rain-exposed structures, compromising their learning outcomes. The report underscores the need for innovative solutions to address these challenges and ensure quality education for all.
The AMF LIVE panel advocated for leveraging local bio-based, geo-based, and recyclable resources to build educational facilities. This approach involves using earth-based solutions, such as compressed earth blocks and raw earth structures, which offer exceptional thermal mass suited to local climates. Additionally, transforming plastic waste into durable construction components and utilizing sustainably managed timber, bamboo, straw, and agricultural by-products provides a circular approach to building.
The "Terre activée" initiative, led by HEPIA in partnership with the University of Yaoundé 1, is pioneering low-carbon binders using excavated construction soil mixed with green waste to stabilize local soils. This project minimizes cement consumption and offers a sustainable solution for building educational facilities. By adopting such innovative approaches, Cameroon can address its infrastructure gaps while promoting environmental sustainability.
However, scaling these solutions requires overcoming historical social stigmas that label local materials as "inferior." The panel acknowledged the need to tackle shortages in skilled artisanal labor, limited industrialization gaps, and financing hurdles. Insights from the Local Materials Promotion Mission, MIPROMALO, highlight the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure the successful implementation of sustainable building solutions.
The proposal of adaptable school prototypes using local materials offers a promising solution to Cameroon's educational infrastructure challenges. By adopting a holistic approach and leveraging local resources, the country can provide quality educational facilities that promote environmental sustainability and improve learning outcomes. The initiative has the potential to transform the education sector and contribute to the country's development.
Key points
- Architects propose using local, bio-based, and recyclable materials to build educational facilities in Cameroon.
- The proposal aims to address infrastructure gaps, promote environmental sustainability, and improve learning outcomes.
- Implementing sustainable building solutions requires overcoming social stigmas, labor shortages, and financing hurdles.
