On Thursday, May 8, 2025, St Mary’s International College, Tiko, unveiled its Cambridge International Education accreditation plaque to symbolise the school’s global academic standard in its drive and commitment to shaping world-class learners in its state-of-the-art structures and system.
The school was accredited as a Cambridge International School (CM017), placing it among the world’s top schools, whose students will have the renowned and globally respected Cambridge Curriculum at their disposal. These include the IGCSE, AS and A levels and Lower Secondary Checkpoint. This effectively places St Mary’s at a level of global competitiveness, academic excellence and also at a level where it will drive innovation through its young learners.
The event was attended by the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Matt Woods, alongside Cameroon’s Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga, who all hailed St Mary’s Founder, Paul Atang, for investing in the education sector and for striving for the best standards both in academic and infrastructural levels.
In his opening speech, the Proprietor of St Mary’s International College, Paul Atang, while noting that the event marks their accreditation as a Cambridge International School, thanked the various stakeholders who, through their various offices, made it a success that finally ended with the prestigious accreditation.
The Proprietor thanked Prof. Nalova for her revolutionary vision for education in Cameroon, and for always taking time to offer counsel on enhancing the curriculum at St Mary’s. “Your revolutionary vision for education in Cameroon has been yielding positive results. We pledge to work in line with your constructive ideas to improve the educational standards in Cameroon”, he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Cambridge team headed by Country Representative, Caroline Ndifor, for drilling them with diligence and providing essential technical assistance. He told the British High Commissioner to Cameroon that in Caroline Ndifor, they have a devoted and professional employee. The Proprietor equally expressed gratitude the students and staff of St Mary’s. He thanked the parents for trusting St Mary’s and taking the leap of faith and delving into uncertainty, as St Mary’s strives to do something different in providing essential education and training to the next generation of leaders and change makers in all spheres.
On her part, Minister Nalova hailed St Mary’s International College and its Proprietor, saying that Cameroon feels proud and happy when initiatives to invest in the country and education are carried out by citizens. She said such initiatives help the state and make the country better. She however cautioned that though operating now with a Cambridge Accreditation, the school should ensure that it also reflects its Cameroonian origin, by blending the two systems so that its students can proudly present themselves as world-class learners trained in Cameroon, and having the same standards as the best students anywhere in the globe because of their unique blend of the best of the Cambridge and Cameroon education system. While saying she isn’t out to make an advertorial for St Mary’s, Minister Nalova said it is absolutely the best school she will recommend for anyone who wants the best for their kid.
Speaking to the press at the event, the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Matt Woods, hailed St Mary’s International College and its Proprietor, Paul Atang, for his vision, commitment, and dedication to education in Cameroon. He said he agrees with Minister Nalova that the Cambridge Accreditation for St Mary’s International College should not phase out the College’s Cameroonian roots, but should make the best use of the two systems. He said one thing he would add is that the partnership “is also about how we can bring people together from Cameroon and the UK. How can we expose young people to different ways of doing things so that they can learn in different ways? They can combine all sorts of learning methods and ways of doing things, which only enriches them as a people and us as two countries that want to come closer together. It is an amazing initiative. Congratulations again to the Founder and thanks so much to the Minister”, H.E Matt Woods said.
By Andrew Nsoseka
