ENS Maroua Results Spark Controversy

By Leocadia Bongben

Following the publication of the results of the selection of candidates into the Higher Teachers' Training College, ENS Maroua, disgruntled northern politicians and elite have written to the Head of State, in protest.

They are of the opinion that the selected number of the northern students is meagre and are demanding that 500 places be added to the list.Speaking at the end of the recently ended parliamentary session, the Parliamentarian for Yagoua, Silikam, maintained that the selection was not fair, given that the Head of State promised them a University and consequently the northerners should have more students.

She said they have written a letter of complaint to the President. One of the Parliamentarians is quoted in French daily, Mutations, as saying that the creation of the higher teacher's training college was meant to curb the deficiency of teachers in the Region.

According to the elites of the north, only 23 percent of the 2200 places were accorded the three Northern Regions.However, sources in the Ministry of Higher Education state that of 828 places out of 2200 for the Northern Regions, 37percent is considerable. The detail results indicate that for the first cycle 490 out of 1300 are from the north. And that 338 out of 953 for the second cycle are equally from the north.

They argued that the jury's selection was not based on the origin of the candidates.
Meanwhile, there are media reports to the effect that after political parties meet in Maroua, they declared that a peaceful march would take place in front of Regional authorities on December 19, which will coincide with the official opening of the Festival of Arts and Culture, FENAC, organised by the Ministry of Culture. 

Also, The Post learnt that there are threats from the northern elite that if the number of students is not increased, the admitted students from other areas would not be at ease as there would be no accommodation for them in Maroua.

The northern elite are equally arguing that there were no examinations and as such the Ministry of Higher Education should not talk of results as only files were studied. They question the effectiveness of regional balance.

Meanwhile, there are conflicting figures from the same unit in the Higher Education Ministry signed by the same person, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo. The results indicate that out of the 15803 applications for the first cycle 1300 were selected. For the second cycle, of the 9379 applicants, only 953 were admitted.

The document in the possession of the northern elite shows 14,774 applications for the first cycle with 326 places instead of the 472 for the north, out of 1261 and not 1300 ministry figures and 9897 for the second cycle, with 288 instead of 229 from the north, in the elite figures.

The composition of the jury for the first and second cycles was headed by Prof. Maurice Sosso and Minyono Nkodo from the second cycle, respectively.

Comments

[buea1]

where in hell do these guys think they are?the last president did more than enough of that shit for the north.
cameroonians from every corner including the north should be given the same opportunities.it's about time this preferential nonsense stops.

[Che Sunday]

I did not hear them crying when Ahidjo filled the ranks of the army and gendarmes with northerners. Paul is doing the same thing and that is Cameroon in its very rotten form. If bororo man wants it all, he had better realized that its a second helping he is asking for. Other regions are yet to taste leftovers, let alone the main course. Where were they when students from Buea cried for help?

[Ndi. O]

I guess the northerners had better joined their Camerounais army or get back to chase cows in the bush. The mentality of Cameroonian generation of this age has taken us back 200 years.

[yat]

All your fault Mr Biya because you promised them a university as a reward for voting you. I suggest they should channel this to parliament which will modify the quotar allocated them

[lonelyconcerned]

THIS STORY MAKES ME REMEMBER OF THE ENTRANCE INTO THE BUEA MEDICAL SCHOOL A YEAR AGO. WHO CARES ABOUT THE ENGLISH SPEAKING IN THIS COUNTRY? NOBODY BECAUSE MOST ANGLOPHONES DO NOT KNOW OR ARE JUST AFRAID TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. IMAGINE CAVAYE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AT THE HEAD OF THE REVENDICATION WITH SERIOUS THREATS OF PUBLIC MANIFESTATIONS IN MAROUA AGAINST THE REGIME THAT HE IS PART OF, JUST FOR A SPECIAL TREATMENT TO BE GIVEN TO THE NORTHERN PROVINCES IN THE ENTRANCE INTO THE ENS IN MAROUA? AND BIYA GIVING IN SO FAST. HOW MANY ANGLOPHONE POLITICIANS CAN DARE DO THAT? ANY TIME YOU COMPLAIN, YOU ARE ACCUSED OF WANTING BIYA TO REMOVE SOME PEOPLE FROM THEIR POSTS.REMEMBER A VICE CHANCELLOR WAS DISMISSED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA FOR TRYING TO CLAIM THAT ANGLOPHONES OUGHT TO HAVE MORE PLACES IN THE NEWLY CREATED MEDICAL SCHOOL. TODAY WE HAVE THE PROVE THAT THE NORTHERNERS ARE SPECIAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAROUA ENS. WHERE IS THE HIGHER TECHNICAL TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE ASKED FOR THE ANGLOPHONE REGION FOR A LONG TIME NOW? WHY CAN BAMBILI NOT ALSO BECOME A FULL ENS WITH SPECIAL TREATMENT TO ANGLOPHONE CANDIDATES?
WE NEED MANY AYAHS OVER THERE AND ONE DAY THE ANGLOPHONES WILL REACH THE LEVEL OF THE NORTHERNERS REVENDICATION BOLDNESS AND THE REGIME WILL KNOW THAT THE ANGLOPHONES EXIST AND OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED ALSO