Woodworks / Carpentry at Mary Bilingual Comprehensive High School

Do you enjoy the smell of fresh-cut timber and like making things with your hands? The Woodworks course at Mary Bilingual teaches students how to turn rough planks into doors, chairs, cabinets and even small houses. Carpenters are always needed in Cameroon for building sites, furniture shops and home repair work.

About the course

The program runs for three years (Form 3 to Form 5). You will learn how to measure, saw, plane, join and finish wood. You will also study reading drawings, choosing the right timber and using both hand tools and machines. At the end you sit for the national CAP exam in “Menuiserie Bois” and receive the Mary Bilingual high-school diploma. Classes are held in English and French so you can work anywhere in the country.

Workshop and tools

The carpentry shop is 600 m² and has:

Bench planes, chisels and hand saws for each student
Circular saws, band saw and thickness planer
Spindle moulder and mortising machine
Drill presses and cordless drills
Wood lathe for turning chair legs
Spray booth for painting and varnish
Store room with dry local woods (iroko, sapele, pine)

Students must wear safety glasses and ear muffs. Teachers check every machine before use and keep a first-aid kit on the wall.

Daily work

Morning: theory lessons on wood types, joints, workshop math and costing.
Afternoon: practical work. Students build real projects such as classroom doors, teacher desks, beds and kitchen cabinets. Items sold to parents and local buyers help pay for new timber.
Evening: optional drawing practice or preparation for the next day’s project.

Industry links

CCA Construction, Douala – orders doors and window frames
Mboa Furniture – offers two-week internships each term
Catholic Workshop, Loum – buys student-made church pews
SNV Netherlands – supports training in eco-wood and bamboo

Results

88 % of graduates find jobs or start small workshops within six months
Average starting salary: 140 000–180 000 FCFA per month
Students produced 420 desks and 180 doors for the school in 2023
School team won 2nd place in the 2023 National Skills Competition for joinery

Admission

Open to boys and girls who have finished Form 2
Need at least 50 % in Maths and Science
Must pass a simple aptitude test (measure a board, name basic tools)
Short interview in English and French

Fees

+237 6 77 64 77 37
info@mbchs.org

Career paths

Work as site carpenter, furniture maker or shop fitter
Study further at a technical college for an HND in furniture design or building trades
Open your own carpentry shop; the school lends machines for the first six months and helps with business advice

How to apply

Come any school day between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to see students sawing, planing and assembling. If you like what you see, fill the online form, upload your Form 2 report. Applications close 30 April and the entrance exam is 15 May.

Wood is everywhere—houses, schools, churches, offices. Learn to work it well and you will have a skill for life.