Security threats a concern as new academic year begins

Cameroon’s public and private universities started the 2022-23 academic year on 4 October as planned – but the sector is facing challenges, ranging from security threats to plans for the stricter vetting of lecturers at private higher education institutions.

At a meeting with university heads and higher education authorities in Yaoundé on 30 September 2022, the Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, said all the necessary measures were taken to open institutions as planned and that steps will be taken to deal with problems.

Professor Ngomo Horace Manga, the vice-chancellor of Buea University, outlined some of the challenges experienced during the previous academic year as the lecturers’ strike, setbacks triggered by COVID-19 and the resurgence of violence in the sector, especially in the south-west and north-west of Cameroon, where there is conflict between separatist fighters and government forces.

“We are really concerned about the learning environment of the universities of Buea and Bamenda [which] are plagued by insecurity [and] with students and lecturers [who are] exposed to intermittent attacks by protesters on campus,” Ngomo said.

“We want the government to find a lasting solution to this problem that has been going on for over five years. We have also asked the government to reinforce security on campus,” he added.

Professor Theresa Nkuo-Akenji, the vice-chancellor of the University of Bamenda, agreed: “The most pressing concerns are the lack of safe and secure learning environments in our universities and higher schools of learning,” she said.

According to a 2021 report by the research organisation ACAPS, education is a key component of the anglophone crisis.

Anglophone armed groups have been protesting since 2016 against their perceived marginalisation, including in the education sector.

To drive their protests, they often force educational institutions to close and attack students, teachers and learning and teaching facilities.

The universities of Buea and Bamenda and other higher education institutions in the two crisis regions have not been spared these attacks, the report says.

Private higher education

At the meeting, private university authorities were urged to make sure they complied with measures regulating the running of higher education institutions, especially with the recruitment of qualified staff.

The minister warned that institutions that operate without authorisation will be closed down. There are about 10 licensed private higher education institutions and 11 public institutions in Cameroon.

“I had, on several occasions, cautioned students, parents and the general public against the growing phenomenon of universities which were operating without formal approval,” he said.

In accordance with guidelines (Minister Order No 01/0096/MINESUP of 7 December 2001) for the setting up and functioning of private higher education institutions in Cameroon, the proprietor of a school should present, at each stage of the setting-up process, a portfolio that enables him to gradually obtain authorisation to set up such institution.

Change to recruitment criteria

Minister Ndongo also announced the creation of a commission working to redefine the recruitment criteria of lecturers in all universities.

Cameroon’s Ministry of Higher Education has a unit that ensures transparency in the recruitment of lecturers in state universities.

The unit has a national commission for the evaluation of the authenticity of certificates offered abroad that meets every year to examine the files of applicants. This process has now been extended to recruits to private institutions.

That is why the minister announced that a commission will work with the private universities to ensure that only those with authentic certificates are recruited in all authorised universities (private or public).

“We need to ensure and uphold quality teaching in our universities with an emphasis on professional training,” the minister cautioned.

Proposal about teaching students

Other concerns addressed during the meeting related to teaching graduates entering the public service.

In May 2022, the ministry of higher education and that of public service announced the suspension of a process whereby graduates from government-owned higher teachers’ training institutions would be seamlessly integrated into the public service. They would include students from the Higher Teacher Training College, known by its French acronym, ENS, and the Higher Technical Teacher Training College, known in French as ENSET.

The decision sparked criticism from university students and the general public, who saw their chances of getting employment through the public service being blocked.

The minister used the meeting of 30 September to clarify the matter. He said it was a proposal that was submitted to the government (prime minister) for consideration. Secondly, he added, if the government approves, it will take effect only from the 2025-26 academic year.

Academic year

The academic year will have two semesters with two-week breaks in December and March respectively.

National exams like the Higher National Diploma, awarded by private universities and higher professional training programmes and equivalent to a first degree, will be written from May to July 2023, while competitive [higher professional schools] entrance exams (Concours) will take place between March and September 2023.

Higher professional schools in Cameroon are institutions that provide training in various professional disciplines.

Masters and doctorate programmes will start by 7 November 2022.

The annual University Games, involving various institutions, will be hosted by the University of Bamenda from 18-23 February. The academic year ends on Friday, 28 July 2023.

The minister announced the creation of a commission working to redefine recruitment criteria in all universities.

Cameroon’s Ministry of Higher Education has a unit that ensures transparency and respect of the law in the recruitment of lecturers in state universities. The unit has a National Commission for the Evaluation of the Authenticity of Certificates Offered Abroad that meets each year to examine the files of applicants.

But, before now, this has not been extended to the private universities. That is why the minister announced that a commission of the evaluation unit in the ministry will, hence, work with the private universities to ensure that only those with authentic certificates are recruited in all authorised universities (private and public).

“We need to ensure and uphold quality teaching in our universities with an emphasis on professional training,” the minister cautioned.