THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA`S KUMBA COLLEGE TAKES OFF

The Higher Technical Teachers` Training College (HTTC) that was created in Kumba by President Paul Biya earlier this year will go operational from the start of the 2014-2015 academic year. The president set up the institution shortly after visiting Buea to preside at the ceremony marking fifty years of Cameroon`s reunification.

Following the signing of the presidential decree that established the institution in March, the minister of Higher Education, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongoappointed to run the college. Recently the President appointed the institution`s Director in the person of Prof.Joyce BayandeEndeley, an Associate Professor of Agricultural Extension and Gender Studies. Prior to her appointment, she was Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Professionalization and Communication Technology at the University of Buea. Following that appointment, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof. NalovaLyonga, has formally installed the newly appointed officials in their functions.

The Deputy Director is Dr. Michael AgborNtui, an Associate Professor who was previously working at the Faculty of Education of the same University. The Secretary General of the institution is Daniel Lissouckand the Dean of Studiesis Dr. Kenneth LukongMengnjo.

Departments within the institution – all of which have had their departmental heads appointed as well - include the department of civil engineering and forestry techniques, topography and land management, computer science, law, science of education, social Economy and the Family, and renewable energy. The others are tourism and hotel management, electrical engineering, guidance and counselling, management sciences, administrative techniques and agronomy sciences.

Now that the institution is ready to open its doors to students from this year, two key questions have arisen: where in Kumba will it be located and when and how will students be admitted. The pioneer Director of the college, Prof. Joyce Endeley gave the answers to those questions in an interview to The Post newspaper. Regarding the location, Prof. Endeley said a series of proposals have been made. But she added: “We will not rush for now.  A lot of suggestions have been trickling in. The government has to look into them closely. The government will not get land just anywhere or the institution. They have to look into issues of indemnities and other damages to be incurred. Accessibility to students must be a priority. So for now we will have temporary accommodation at the Government Technical High School in Kumba and progressively move on.”

Regarding the admission procedure for students, the pioneer director said the minister of higher education would decide whether it would be by a competitive examination or by study of files. She added: “Now we have to begin the administration on the ground, hold a series of meetings with my collaborators and the University of Buea administration, set out priorities, the road map and a budget for the school.”