By Nana Wilson
Justin Ayuk, National President, University of Buea Alumni Association, has blamed the current happenings in the University of Buea on poor management tactics. According to him; "The problem is not the strike itself but the management of the crisis." He faulted the powers that be in the University of Buea for not taking their responsibilities promptly. He prescribed dialogue between the UB administration and the students.
He also called on the students to express moderation in their actions. He chatted online with The Post's Walter Wilson Nana. Excerpts:
The Post: As the National President of the UB Alumni Association, what is your reading of the current happenings in the University of Buea?
Justin Ayuk: It is rather unfortunate that we find ourselves where we are today with respect to the strike action that students started last April 27. From the look of things, the problem is not the strike itself but the management of the crisis.
We all understand that it is not proper to flog a crying child. If you do, the child will cry the more. I think we have passed the age where repressive methods were employed to resolve human conflict.
If you look at how the strike was managed in the University of Yaounde I, you will not hesitate to give credit to the Minister of Higher Education. In Buea, the authorities failed in their assignment.
The government for some time now, has made efforts to improve in many domains. Those to whom power has been delegated, I think should make this task easier rather than taking decisions that make things more difficult.
A demonstration by students is an invitation to treat in the case where they feel neglected. It was necessary to listen and talk to them and there would be no demonstrators. The happenings of Thursday, May 5, made matters worse. Till date I cannot understand why water was sprayed on mourning students.
Look at the damage that Buea has suffered from the tyres and whatever that was burnt on the road, a road that everybody wanted. I am afraid in a few years all those areas that experienced the burning will start giving way.
The students are asking for more toilets on the campus, better quality food at the UB restaurant, all courses should be offered for re-sits and the scrapping of FCFA 50,000, which is only a registration fee. Do you find these grievances genuine?
What I see here is the absence of dialogue between the administration and the students. The school administration has to look for a forum in which students can be informed about certain things. The students did not ask more than what they should have.
I understand some students have not bothered to know the type of fees they pay. Your registration fee gives you that student status. Students should not forget that the government pays their tuition fees. Most of our parents who are today's decision makers, studied on scholarships.
Hence, they may not understand the hardship that students face. The students too, may not understand the financial difficulties that our government is facing. Both parties should understand that times have changed and with the current population of students and the number of universities, what we had yesterday may not apply today.
I may not understand the difficulties that the university authorities face to organise re-sit exams. If not, the students are not wrong to demand for all courses to be offered in the re-sit, particularly, final year courses. I think the other demands like toilets, water, and restaurant problems are basic necessities and should be solved.
The students also hold that there is no effective communication channel between them and the UB authorities. What is your reaction to that?
It is absolutely necessary that the administration communicates with the students. Most of the members of the University of Buea administration studied abroad; either for undergraduate or post graduate degree programs, in universities that had student unions. An Anglo-Saxon university is not complete without a student union.
However, a student union will only function properly if politicians allow it to function as such.
In your opinion, what should be done in the current stalemate, considering that the UB authorities have suspended classes indefinitely?
I think a forum for dialogue should be open. I understand it may be difficult to identify those who could stand for the students even if the University authorities are willing and open for dialogue. The strike was an overflow of what was in Yaounde I.
I tried to find out if there is a constituted group like it was in 1995 but the result has not been positive. If there is no constituted group then with the intimidations I think it may not be easy.
Has your association approached the UB authorities since the strike started in UB? If yes, what have been the fall-out of your discussions? If not, why?
We had a meeting in Buea, Monday, May 9, in relation to the happenings, in which I participated by phone. However, attempts made by the Vice President and Scribe to meet the authorities and discuss the possibilities of mediating in this crisis failed.
They could not talk to any of the UB authorities. We are not dampened in spirits. We have resolved to approach the UB authorities with the proposals we have in mind.
What are the proposals?
What is important now is to get the students back to the classrooms. By the time we get to the facts of the strike, we shall stand a better chance to make concrete proposals to avoid future occurrences.
And to the students?
I will appeal to the students to start packing their bags for school. We regret what has happened. Everything cannot come to a halt. There must be a compromise for continuity. I would like to let you know that violence has never paid off.
You should be cautious anywhere and anytime that you have a problem. Avoid violence even if you are provoked. The government has disbursed money to the various universities to resolve some of the problems the students forwarded.
However, any student who has any important information that can help solve this problem should write to: [email protected]. All information will be treated confidentially.
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