Pitman Training goes to Cameroon

Pitman Training Centre, London EC2 has recently signed a deal with the National Assembly of Cameroon to provide support and international accreditation for students at the Training Centre for Parliamentary Association (also known by its French acronym CEFAP).

In addition to the accreditation, provided by Pitman Training Group, specialist expertise will be provided to develop the shorthand programme structure, content and teaching methods. CEFAP students with shorthand skills have the opportunity to go on to work as verbatim reporters at the National Assembly to record its debates and meetings.

The three-year agreement was signed by Maggie Love, Director of the London EC2 training centre when she, and specialist trainer Margaret Liddell, visited the Cameroon capital of Yaounde last month.

Maggie said: “It’s an exciting opportunity for us all and a major step that will bring the world-renowned professional standards of Pitman Training to the Cameroon National Assembly training facility.

“CEFAP is dedicated to gaining worldwide recognised accreditation for its students and to becoming a centre for excellence in parliamentary administration skills, not only in Cameroon but also throughout Africa.  We are delighted to partner with them in support of this ambitious goal.”

Once qualified through a Pitman Training shorthand certification, achieving speeds of up to 160 words per minute, students will have the opportunity for employment producing meeting transcripts for the Daily Gazette – the Cameroon National Assembly’s equivalent of the British Parliament’s ‘Hansard’.

Helen Oto, Director of CEFAP said: “This is an exciting step towards our ambition and we have selected Pitman Training as our partner because of their worldwide reputation as the leading provider of shorthand teaching and accreditation.”

Pitman Training, London EC2 runs many shorthand programmes for journalists, minute-takers and PAs for major institutions such as the UK Government, several universities and UK and international media organisations.

Maggie Love concluded: “We’ll visit Cameroon at least twice a year to ensure the programme delivers world class quality in every aspect of syllabus, teaching and training and that the examinations are carried out  to UK and international standards.  While we will be training English speaking students, we are also doing some much needed training of our own, frantically brushing up on our French as Cameroon is predominantly French speaking!

“Pitman Training has achieved the great reputation it has thanks to impeccable standards and the quality of our business-focused training – we really do prepare people to go straight into their career often with world class organisations - and in the job of their dreams.”