Cameroon Universities in tribulations

Cameroon Universities in tribulations Rectors and Vice – Chancellor challenge to mobilize resources to make them a veritable tools for development.

The republic of Cameroon with a population of over 15 million inhabitants counts barely six state Universities to include the Universities of; Yaounde 1, Yaounde II-Soa, Douala, Ngaoundere, Ndchang, and Buea-the lone Anglo-Saxon University. Other than the University of Yaounde 1, the five others came into existence shortly after the university reforms which took place a little bit over a decade ago. However there are other few private institutions in the name of Universities though with little or no population begging for government recognition. Due to acute problem of finance and infrastructure some of the Universities operate in structures beyond those of some secondary schools in the country. Little wonder why strike actions have been the order of day for these students who keep on pressing government for better learning conditions. But they still remain the last hope for young Cameroonians seeking University education since government no longer award scholarships to enable them study abroad. According to statistics presented by Cameroon’s minister of higher education Prof. Jecques Fame Ndongo, during a recent preparatory meeting for the 2007/2008 academic year in states universities, indicates that out of the close to 50.000 candidates who just left the secondary school in 2007 after passing their general certificate of education advanced level as well as the Bacalaureat examinations about 37.000 of them are expected to knock at the doors of public universities in Cameroon. If this happened the total student population in the six state universities during the 2007/2008 academic year will stand at roughly 130.000, up from 108.000 last year. A situation that made the minister uncomfortable as to the fact that it will aggravate the existing problems facing the university community particularly with respect to infrastructure , learning and working conditions and the social – professional integration of graduates. In an effort to effectively tackle such problems the higher education boss called on the five rectors and one vice-chancellor to mobilize the necessary resources to make the county’s higher education system a veritable tool for development. The preparatory meeting featuring academic, financial, managerial and social issuers to be addressed in readiness for the re-opening of the university in next month, also gave reputation to the new diploma system, the bachelors, masters, doctorates or LMD systems in which an advanced level holder henceforth can obtain a Ph.D after eight years of studies. On the other hand each Rector was given time to report on the state of pre-registration and registration in their various universities while outlining difficulties which were scrutinized for possible solutions. Many are those who strongly believe the challenges of the 2007/2008 academic year for state universities are the modernization of equipment, improvement of working conditions as well as the insertion of students in the professional milieu.

Courtesy - Harry Ndienla Yemti