IS THE UNIVERSITY OF BAMENDA FILLED WITH FRANCOPHONES?

IS THE UNIVERSITY OF BAMENDA FILLED WITH FRANCOPHONES?

A double blessing

The opening of the University of Bamenda (UBa) is a benediction, not just for Anglophone Cameroonians according to whose Anglo-Saxon it was modeled, but for the rest of the country.

The University of the future

Despite the institution`s Anglo-Saxon tradition, it is not unavailable to Francophone students or even lecturers. As the first of the two Anglo-Saxon universities in Cameroon, the University of Buea has been admitting Francophone students and even going out of its way to organize English language crash courses for those with linguistic needs. Apart from that, Cameroon`s six other state universities  - Yaounde I, Yaounde II, Douala, Ngaoundere, Dschang and Maroua – which have a francophone vocation, also receive Anglophone students.

Who am I to speak?

I was Head of the Media Division and lecturer at the University of Bamenda. I have also been extensively involved in technical and professional education in Cameroon and abroad, because that type of education is at the heart of the problem we are analyzing in this paper. I taught French in some of the institutions of UBa.

The charges

My reason for these assertions is that UBa has come under scathing criticism for allegedly being deliberately filled with Francophone students and lecturers, to the detriment of the Anglophone population.

In its Monday 27 January 2014 edition, `The Media` states, “Anglophones are worried that Fame Ndongo (The Minister of Higher Education)  has transformed the Bambili Teachers` Training College (HTTTC) into a branch of ENSET Douala. Anglophone students are further frustrated by the fact that the majority of lecturers at the institution are French-speaking”. `The Median` has also published a contributor`s article which suggests that the Vice Chancellor of UBa, Prof. Tafah Edokat, is in collusion with the minister of Higher Education to give Francophones an unfair advantage over Anglophones at the University.

The wrong move

There`s worse, because `The Median` suggests that a strike is in the offing at the university, organized by Anglophones as a measure of protest – “The students have vowed that they will take to the streets after they were informed that Senators Achidi Achu and Mafany Musonge blocked plans by Anglophone senators to address a memo to the Head of State.

No such bias at the university

Let UBa students rest their weapons because if they do not, they may be chasing a shadow. Firstly, the reference to the two senators is not grounded in anything factual or credible.  As far as I know, there is no deliberate attempt to favour Francophones at the university.

The fact is that from the very beginning Francophones showed greater interest in technical education. In our days in secondary school (Sacred Heart College, Bamenda), we used to poke fun at students attending technical colleges and considered them inferior to us.

When we entered High School in CCAST Bambili, it was unthinkable for any of us to enter the ENS. We called ENS students “ballads” and vowed never to be “ballads” like them.  

The difference with Francophone students

They are not just interested in but hungry for technical education, unlike us. Yearly, they travel from their own regions to seek admission in technical schools West of the Mungo. Most Anglophones who think of studying at UBa think firstly of the Higher Teachers` Training College (HTTC) because with its qualification they are sure of a job. They are less interested in the Higher Technical Teachers` College (HTTTC) because it is technical.

When I was principal of Nacho Bilingual Comprehensive College in Bamenda some years ago, I needed two chemistry teachers for the First Cycle.  Twelve qualified candidates applied – five had A/Level chemistry, three had the Bachelor`s degree, one had a Masters, and three graduated with the subject from the ENS. That was a total of 12 applicants for two jobs. Paradoxically, in the same years I needed two teachers of dress making. I did not receive a single application. Someone then told me of a girl who had just obtained passes in that trade that same year. When I contacted her, she was already employed. I had to offer her money for her to quit the other job.

Recently I visited the Regional School for the training of agricultural technicians in Kumba and was amazed that the language of communication among students was French. When I asked, one of the officials told me that at least 60 per cent of the student body was made up of Francophones. He said they had done everything to attract Anglophone candidates in vain. When I went to the  Regional Delegate for Employment and Vocational Training in Buea, he complained that despite the numerous opportunities offered youth by his Anglophone youths are still uninterested.

Not long ago, Ma Ndim, a former principal of Government Bilingual High School, Down Town (Bamenda) recounted a story about how when GTC Bambui was opened and she sent her two children there, some people mocked her for leaving a “prestigious school” such as CCAST Bambili and sending her children to “a mere technical college”.

The other beneficial factor of Francophone students

The interaction of Francophone students at UBa is advantageous. They are prominent in sporting activities including support for the university`s fan club. Daily they can be seen practicing different kinds of sports, outside of the curriculum and voluntarily. Generally speaking, Anglophones play the role of onlookers.

Spare the minister and the Vice Chancellor

The charges at the minister and the vice chancellor are unfounded. The problem is that we parents despise technical education, just like we despise sports and music and sometimes threaten our children with “death’ if they venture into any of those areas.

Conclusion

It would be valuable to all stakeholders if our students cohabit. They could interact with each other and improve their French or English, depending on their background. Above all, Anglophone students currently at the university can orientate other Anglophones towards enrolling on technical courses at the university. Parents must also change their mentality.