Fon Kevin Shomitang II Sets Stage for Peace among Bambalangs

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

After a long nation wide tour which took His Royal Majesty Fon Kevin Shomitang II of Bambalang to Yaounde, Buea, Limbe, Bafoussam, Douala, Bafang, Fumbot amongst other places, the Fon finally communed with his subjects in Bamenda on Saturday the 30^th of October. Addressing the throngs of Bambalang people otherwise referred to as MbawYakum people who turned out to welcome their Fon, His Royal Majesty who is also President of the Regional House of Chiefs in the North West Region said his Meet The People Tour started on the 25^th of August in Yaoundé. The main aim of his tour he revealed was to galvanise the people to be peace ambassadors. He revealed that the reception of his message of peace by Mbawyakum people in the towns he had visited was very positive.

He said he was very satisfied with the turnout in Bamenda which he said was an indication that a good number of people got his message. He further said that the feedback he'd been getting from the village since he started the tour had been very positive. From the days ahead His Royal Majesty hinted, all efforts would be harnessed to make sure that the peace process among the people of Bambalang roles on.

Hence he said, permissions to carry out any initiative had to be authorised by him. Only MYCA the MbawYakum Cultural and Development Association he stated unequivocally remained the umbrella association. Any other secondary organisation he said had to be recognised by MYCA and authorized by him.

Addressing the group of Bambalang Elites from Ndop he called on all its members to make sure they were registered members of MYCA. Hence he said, the activities of the group in Ndop would be closely monitored by him. His colleague the Fon of Ndop said he was going to give Fon Kevin Shomitang II all the needed support in that domain.

Cognizant of the crisis that has been raging in the region and the extent to which it had affected the lives of his subjects, Fon Kevin Shomitang II insisted that he was very certain that the peace initiative would be fruitful.

The Secretary General of MYCA called on all MbawYakum people at home and abroad to be up to date with regards to their financial commitments with MYCA. This he said would make it possible for the Association to meet up with its development goals. He insisted that despite the persistent crisis ,development initiatives should be taken seriously. “While crying, we should be moving ahead” he said.

The branch President of MYCA Bamenda also hinted on the necessity for development initiatives to go on.

In an elaborate message presented to the Fon the need for an up to date Hall in Bamenda was emphasised. Efforts in the past to raise funds have repeatedly failed. The branch President of the female wing of MYCA in Bamenda expressed the desire of the women to collaborate with the Fon in all his efforts to push MbawYakum people forward. She added that their presence to welcome the Fon was a demonstration of their desire to collaborate with him.

Also present were members of the North West Regional Executive Council, the Divisional Officer for Bamenda I, the National President of MYCA represented by the Secretary General, the Branch President of MYCA Bamenda, President of the Ndop Elite Group and a cross  section of Mbawyakum elites. The event was rendered exceptionally colourful by beautiful traditional dancing and rituals.

 

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Anglophone Crisis

The Unprecedented Destruction and Stagnation of A Region

-The Case of Bali Subdivision

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

The most dreadful outcome of the Anglophone Crisis besides the loss of thousands of human lives is the destruction of property and the stagnation of development initiatives in the affected Regions. As the war rages on, a close look at the “programmed destruction” has pushed many quarters to question the raison d’être behind all of it irrespective of the side of the coin uttering the question.

This writer decided to begin this survey by taking a close look at the Bali Sub Division in Mezam in the North West Region.

While it is an established fact that the Crisis started as a result of genuine grievances presented by Lawyers and Teachers of English expression among which was marginalisation of Anglophone Cameroonians, it is also a fact that the present atrocities being committed by the warring parties have no justification what so ever.

Let’s take a look at Bali. The seeming tussle for power between the “Non state armed groups” generally referred to as Separatist Fighters and Government Authorities represented on the ground by the Regular Army have left the vulnerable populations of Bali in a very precarious situation.  It is no hidden fact that Bali is home to an impressive presence of Separatist Fighters. As a result, they have a reasonable control over the area. However they have not been saints throughout.  They call the shots as far as the life of the common man is concerned and have carried out their own fair share of kidnappings, tortures, killings amongst others.

With their presence there, the military is bound to come knocking. One would expect the military to be very professional but that has not always been the case. As a result, houses have been razed to the ground during military operations as they hunt amba fighters.

For security reasons a few months ago Government Authorities in Mezam Division banned the movement of motorcycles in the area.  In retaliation, the Separatists completely banned the movement of vehicles between Bali and Bamenda. Bali was grounded and many observers felt it was some sort of a hidden agenda to destroy Bali by non indigenous people.

The ensuing suffering on the people was immeasurable. Crops were transported in wheel barrows or “trucks” from Bali to Bamenda under scary security situations. Economically, hundreds of millions were lost. The destruction and stagnation could not get worse.  

In the face of all these troubles the Government didn’t and has not indicated any intention of breaking the stalemate with a change of approach. On the other side of the coin, Separatist leaders in the Diaspora have been fanning pro-secessionist slogans chanting that Anglophones should settle for nothing short of separation. Between these two extreme dichotomies is the stranded population.

The Presbyterian Church in Bali got roped in when there was a friction between the PCC and the Separatists due to utterances by the Moderator that didn’t go down well with the latter. The church was practically stopped from operating in Bali.

Things got worse when a PCC Pastor was shot during service in Bali. He survived but a lady who received a bullet in the chest died instantly. As the dispair picked up steam, accusations were traded. While it was assumed that the shootings had been carried out by the Separatists considering the tensed relationship that existed between the PCC and them the Rev Pastor after recovering declared that he had been shot by the Regular Cameroon Army.

The concentration of atrocities in the Bali Municipality was certainly getting out of hand and everybody who could do something looked on helplessly. The market in Bali is under the control of the amba fighters and the municipal authorities have been collecting no revenues from there.

During the Prime Minister’s Peace Mission to the North West Region this reporter learnt that parts of the tarmac of the road in Bali which is one of the best roads in the North West had been cut through and destroyed by unidentified individuals. A few days ago, information reaching this reporter indicated that the mysterious destruction of this recently tarred road that links the North West and the South West is still going on.

The destruction and stagnation is simply gaining grounds and no body can say with certainty who is behind these actions. But what is Clair according to an elite from the area is that the agenda is not only to destroy Bali but to destroy the region.

 

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SAINT MICHAEL'S ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS BAMENDA

Huge Thanksgiving Mass Ushers in New Academic Year

-Overall Best GCE A Level Commercial Student Honoured

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

The Saint Michael’s Academy of Science and Arts Bamenda has organised a ground breaking thanksgiving mass to usher in the 2021-2022 Academic Year. During this colourful service, thanks were heaped on the Almighty for the very good results registered in the previous Academic Year.

 

The overall best student at the Cameroon General Certificate of Education A Level Commercial of the 2020-2021 Academic year who came from the institution received a prize from the school authorities. This student is part of the success story that pushed authorities of SMASA to organise a thanksgiving mass during which prizes were given to the most performant students. The best 8^th overall student on the National Triangle also came from the same institution.  Three students on the National Honour Roll came from this same institution which is slowly but surely making its name heard in private secondary education in the country.

In a touching homily dished out by Rev. Father Siani Edward of the All Saints Catholic Parish, Bayele, Bamenda, the students were enjoined to be constantly upgrading themselves. The eloquent priest said “if you are in Saint Michael and your only aim is to pass your exams then I advise that after this you should go to the office and withdraw.” The priest said the aim of coming to Saint Michael should not only be to pass exams.

“Saint Michael is preparing you for life. It is a partnership because at home, parents are supposed to build the foundation. The teachers will build the walls and when you grow up you will provide the roof but if the teachers don’t put the walls on a solid foundation then the roof will not stand. So whether you become a Lawyer, a Medical Doctor, a priest or a Reverend Sister tomorrow, if you didn’t have a good foundation and the teachers did not build strong walls, you will not make it. So you have to cooperate with your teachers” Rev Father Siani appealed to the throngs of students who turned out for the occasion.

Referring to the first reading of the day he said once you have understanding then comes wisdom adding that once you have wisdom then every other thing is yours since wisdom is a personification of the Holy Spirit.

Speaking to the dominantly student audience Reverend Father Siani said considering the circumstances at the school today, if any student had less than 13 on 20 in average then the student in question was not only dull but stupid as well. Hear him: “I know pedagogues will like to call them Slow Learners but they are not dull and they are not slow. They are stupid. You have everything you need. You have a collection of some of the best teachers from Catholic Schools in the Arch Diocese of Bamenda. If the Sacred Hearts and the Our Lady of Lourdes are having a hundred percent then why can’t you? It is the same teachers that are making it happen.”

Prescribing solutions to solve stupidity he called on students to always do the assignment of the day before going to sleep. Secondly, he called on them to be avid readers. “To be a competitor in the job market you are supposed to have at least a Bachelor degree and now is the time you have to build that foundation.”

Turning to the teachers, he drew their attention to the Second Bible Reading of the day which talked about each and everyone having his or her own talent. In this vein, he discouraged rivalry. “There should be no rivalry. If you copy the system of the country in which you are you will fail. It is the worse system not only in Sub Saharan Africa but in the world.” He called on the teachers to make the students to be fruitful when they leave school explaining that they should be useful in the communities in which they found themselves.

Dr Joseph Lon, a member of the Board of Trustees of the institution said the concept of SMASA was hatched some years back with the sole aim being the transformation of the Educational Scenario in the area. He said since it’s creation the school had been increasingly successful with each passing year.

“For some years now each time we pay tribute to the Almighty and we instituted what has come to be baptized as Saint Michael’s Day. It is a day in which we come together as family; students, teachers, parents, founding fathers and a host of clergymen to thank God and ask for more blessings. ...There are two things we emphasize on here. Firstly we thank God for the brilliant results we had last year. We have students here who were on the Honour Roll... especially in the Commercial Section.  We want to thank God for a very successful last year and to ask for his blessings in this Academic year.”

Dr Joseph Lon explained that though SMASA was not a Catholic institution they adopted the name because they believed in Saint Michael the fighter who’ve been fighting their battles for them.

The Principal of SMASA Mr Ndzefon Gabriel said “today we were begging God to continue to give us the wisdom to manage the ship that he has placed under our guidance. It was a hectic day and we can call it Saint Michael’s Day because our institution is Saint Michael. I was impressed with the discipline of the students today and the participation was enormous. I was happy with the teachers for their collaboration and everybody who came. We had wonderful results. We had three outstanding students in the whole nation so you can imagine how we struggled. The best student in the whole country in the GCE Advanced Level came from Saint Michael with 7 A's and a B. The 8^th student also came from here with 5 A's and 3 B's. Three of them came in the Honour Roll and I think we are a proud institution.”

 

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Florence Nightingale Higher Institute Begins Academic Year With Thanksgiving Service

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

An Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service has been organised to Kick-start the Academic Year in Bamenda. This important prayer and thanksgiving service assembled the three main stream Christian churches at the weekend within the confines of the premises of the Florence Nightingale Higher Institute of Health and Biomedical Sciences Bamenda on Saturday October 17^th at the request of the Director of the institution Mr Nkwain Joseph.

 The Ecumenical Service was celebrated by Rev Father Forgwei Martin, Catholic Parish Priest CUCC Mbelan, the Rev Pastor of the Presbyterian Church Ntambessi and Rev Pastor Ngong Denis of the Cameroon Baptist Convention CBC.

After an opening prayer that was said by the Rev Pastor of the Presbyterian Church Ntambessi, a reading was read from the First Letter  of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians by Rev Father  Martin Forgwei. This reading was followed up by a homily which focused on the importance of always giving thanks to God irrespective of the circumstances in which we found ourselves. Closing prayers were said by Rev Pastor Ngong Denis.

Offertory procession

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Rev Father Forgwei Martin who is the Chaplain  for the University of Bamenda and all the other Higher Institutions of Learning in Bamenda in a brush with the press said “there is no better way to begin the Academic Year than to say thank you God. This is because thanking God is recognition of a favour. Thanking God as we saw in our reading of today from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians chapter Five is a recognition of the goodness of God. Thanking God is not just because the Lord is good but is because even when things are not good God can always turn things around in our favour. I think this institution has acted in wisdom and that this academic year will make things much better for them.

Reverend Pastor Ngong Denis of the Cameroon Baptist Convention CBC Youth Service and Institutions when accosted by this reporter said “today at the Florence Nightingale Higher Institute we took part in an Ecumenical service to thank God for the wonderful things he has been doing to humanity through this institution. They’ve had a huge success story and because of this they thought it wise to rally together and tell God thank you. It is simply to appreciate God and to tell him that what we have comes from Him. To tell him that we recognise him as the creator of the universe and as our maker and so who we are is by His grace. They are here today to say God we are grateful for all that has happened in our lives.”

The Director of the establishment Mr Nkwain Joseph said the establishment is “owned by fifteen Board Members who are Senior Health Personnel, some retired and some still in active service.”

The school he said had every reason to begin the Academic Year by thanking God. Among these reasons were he said the churning out of health personnel with top quality results among other countless reasons to thank the Almighty.

“From the inception of the school, we have been having 100% most of the time apart from a few instances that we had 95% when two students failed. During the Academic Year 2019/2020, the school was ranked first in HND results on the National Territory by the Ministry of Higher Education. In the Academic Year 2020/2021, the best students in HND Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences in the whole country came from Florence Nightingale. We have every reason to thank God.”

Mr Nkwain Joseph proudly recalled that in 2020 the establishment received the Cameroon Performance Awards and that in 2021 the establishment also received an Award from the Life Time Media Group for Excellence in the training of quality health personnel.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Bamenda to train Bachelor students in Nursing, Midwifery and Medical Laboratory Sciences amongst other allied options, this move was followed up by the signing of a Specific Partnership Agreement a few weeks ago.

Thanksgiving to God he said was most appropriate especially as the establishment had crowned it all with the churning out of the first batch of BNS Bachelor in Nursing as well as Bachelor students in Medical Laboratory Sciences BMLS. The occasion was rendered beautiful and colourful by beautiful singing from the school choir.

 

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Good Faith and Will Needed For PM's Peace Mission to Succeed

-Ngufor Peter

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

In a message presented to the Prime Minister Chief, Doctor Joseph Dion Ngute during his recent three day visit to the North West Region, Peter Njontor Ngufor, Resource Person for the CPDM Party and Chief Executive Officer of Farmers House has stated that good faith and good will are needed on both sides of the coin for the PM's Peace Mission to yield fruits.

Referring to the crisis presently wreaking havoc in the North West and South West Regions of the country as an otherwise minor problem, he said the military option was a wrong choice. “In my small understanding, this was more an issue of the Police Force which has been trained to maintain law and order in the entire country.”

This elite from the North West Region also seriously decried the tendency to equate the Anglophone Crisis to the Terrorism seen during the  War of independence from France in the fifties and early sixties. The approach used in the crisis  by the government has destroyed that necessary confidence that a people should have for  their government.   Hear him: “The Peace mission that is being undertaken...is quite difficult in the sense that a lot of goodwill and good faith is needed on all sides especially on the side of the Government that has realised its errors through which many lives have been lost unnecessarily..”

The elite further stated that the root cause of the problem was the lack of equity. He explained that President Ahidjo chose to play games between Foncha and Muna and unfortunately completely missed the point. Acknowledging the fact that Southern Cameroons actually voted to join their brothers instead of joining Nigeria he regretted that the two cultures were not judiciously exploited to achieve outstanding development worthy of envy by other African countries.

Peter Njontor Ngufor opined that President Paul Biya was single handedly chosen by Ahmadou Ahidjo as Head of State in bad faith. He said he was chosen without adequate preparation because he wanted him to fail as Head of State. “Paul Biya as an intellectual should have seen this lapse and organised himself accordingly and moved the unified Cameroon to sound development equitably”

He said the immediate thing to be done was to declare a ceasefire to put a stop to the hostilities presently rocking the country.  The declaration of the ceasefire he said, should be accompanied by “a very big and sincere apology to the whole Nation.” Another immediate antidote prescribed by this elite is the engagement of a meaningful and sincere dialogue or discussions which should take into account the provisions of the 1961 Constitution “which provided the framework for appointments and the sharing of the National Cake.”

Cameroon he said had failed to exist as a coherent nation because of its failure to develop the various segments of its society. No one sector he said is perfect after 60 years of Reunification and Independence. “We have rather perfected negativity shamefully.”

He called on President Paul Biya to turn his back on arrogance and make an effort to implement results of pains taking initiatives like the one the Prime Minister was presently carrying out.

“The so called war against our own people has turned out to be very dirty and has exposed Cameroon as a nation to ridicule. I am very sorry to say this but since your Excellency is on the field to gather honest opinions, hard facts must be told.”

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HIPDET University Cameroon

Creating Partnerships and offering opportunities to the underprivileged

Dr  Parveen Ngum  Neba, the Rector of HIPDET University, Cameroon has intimated, that the Higher Institute for Professional Training and  Development has as one of its objectives, to make education available to the needy.

The institution is implanted in a couple of cities across the National Territory and has made it possible for quality study facilities to be available at very affordable rates to the dominantly Internally Displaced students that presently flood the North West and South West Regions of the country.  This Scholarship Scheme is timely as it comes at a time when those in need are aplenty.

She said the main purpose of HIPDET was to empower the younger ones with the necessary skills needed to take care of their lives. HIPDET started in 2009 with Vocational Training. In 2015 the founder Mr Jean Vingala decided to include HND Programmes in the initiative. In 2019 the Ministry of Higher Education recognised it as a full institution and more recently an Mou was signed with the University of Bamenda to run degree programmes and subsequently Master degree Programmes.

HIPDET is found  in Limbe where they concentrate mostly on Biomedical Sciences. HIPDET is also found in Douala at Bonaberri and in Yaounde. There is also a Campus in Bertoua but the main Campus is in Bamenda where the initiative started specifically at Mile Four in Nkwen at the Health Center Junction where undergraduate programmes take place. There is a second campus in Bamenda at S-Bend Nkwen specifically at the Blue Pearl Hotel premises where the Post Graduate Programmes will be taking place.

Under the mentorship of the University of Bamenda HIPDET will be offering B-Tech programmes, BSc and subsequently Master degree programmes.

HIPDET has Nursing Care Programmes that run for a month that is being offered by a University in the USA for any HIPDET student that wants to travel and is interested in Nursing. HIPDET also has  MBA programmes in eight specialties that they run in collaboration with a University in the US. This programme runs for two years. Students study in Cameroon for a year and then proceed to do the second year in the United States if they so desire.

In collaboration with the Saint Anthony Catholic University in Spain HIPDET offers 12 one year MBA programmes. Students put in One semester in Cameroon and the second semester in Spain.

The institution offers Higher National Diplomas in Hospitality and Management which run for two years and is offered by an international institute in Switzerland.

The institution also offers Bachelor and Masters Programmes in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Pharmacy, Public Health and Medicine. These programmes which run from Four to seven years are offered by the RUND University in Russia.

Against a backdrop of the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon, HIPDET has launched a scholarship scheme for orphans, the underprivileged and the Internally Displaced. These scholarships are offered at the HND, Bachelor and Master degree levels. In the graduation ceremony of the institution that just took place, scholarships were doled out to HND students and BSc students as well. “We call on students to benefit from these scholarships being offered by HIPDET” the Rector said.

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

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HIBUMS POLYTECHNIC

Higher Institute for Business & Management Sciences 

HIBUMS is an independent Institution of learning located at Mile 90, Nsongwa, Bamenda. It presently has campuses at T-junction in Bamenda as well as in Bafoussam. The Polytechnic offers a broad range of diploma and degree programmes leading to the HND Higher National Diploma and the Professional B-Tech and BBA degrees in Accounting, Banking and Finance, Computer, Electricity and Electronic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Science of Education, Insurance, Management, Marketing, Secretarial Administration, Telecommunication, Journalism, Nursing and Medical Laboratory Technology and Tourism.

Affiliations and Accreditations

All the programmes are accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education in Cameroon. The Polytechnic is authorised to run the HND Programmes and degree programmes in affiliation with state and foreign universities all of which are accredited by national governments and listed by UNESCO.

School of Distance Learning

HIBUMS performs the pioneering role of providing the HND in a variety of ways including the sandwich and distant learning routes. In order to promote every useful vehicle for the dissemination of learning, the Polytechnic has developed these modes of instruction aimed at adult and isolated learners who because of their remoteness from our departments are unable to benefit from our on-campus services. There are active pilot study centres major towns of the Northwest and Southwest Regions as well as in Yaounde. Twice in each Trimester, distance learners converge at the nearest study centre for tutorials and revision. During the traditional long vacations in July and August sandwich students come to the main campus in Bamenda to validate courses for the Academic Year through intensive studies and evaluations.

Admission Requirements

In order to qualify for admission into HIBUMS each applicant must be the holder of the GCE A-Level, the BAC, Teachers Grade 1 or any other qualification acceptable by the ministry of Higher Education before the HND registration at the end of level II.

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Prolonged Ghost Towns and Destruction of Property

Mayor Accuses Non Indigenes Of Agenda To Destroy Bali

 By Francis Ekongang Nzante

The Mayor of the Bali Municipality Wandum B. Ernest has pointed an accusing finger for the atrocities going on in Bali at non indigenous people. He has also among other things called on North Westerners to rethink their approach to the ongoing Anglophone Crisis. 

The outspoken mayor said the North West Region was a victim of deep seated manipulation from a group of people whose intentions were not for the good of the region.

He was speaking recently during the visit of the Prime Minister Chief, Doctor Joseph Dion Ngute to the North West Region. He said it was a good thing that the PM followed up his visit to the South West Region with a visit to the North West. He however noted that considering the huge population of the North West Region he'd expected the turn out to be better than was the case. The Mayor further said that most of those who propagated the idea that the Prime Minister should not be received in the North West were dominantly not from the Region. “We always obey what they say but I think the North Westerner has to rethink his approach to the crisis and understand that there is some manipulation some where. I am afraid to say this but the North Westerner will turnout to be the only loser in the whole game. It is good that the Prime Minister has come and we are going to collaborate and work out this thing with him so that we come out with a solution especially in the North West Region. Numerous Lockdowns have been carved out and imposed on North Westerners. It is high time and they should be stopped.”

Turning to his municipality in Bali where the effects of the Lockdowns have been ravaging the Mayor said the belligerents in the so called war can hardly be understood. “Even if you give them gold and silver, they will not desist from this war. There seem to be a hidden agenda that is beyond human comprehension.”

Reverting to the reorganization of the basic organs of the CPDM, he said everything went on well in Bali. He said the people saw that there was something in him that could be useful in pushing Bali forward and that’s why they placed confidence in him.

“My major wish is for peace to return. It is the absence of peace that has disturbed the realisation of our projects. How can projects be realised when people have decided to destroy roads and property and give a very bad image of the Bali man outside... These people have a very bad agenda which is to destroy Bali. I believe there are people behind this thing who are not from Bali. How can Bali people cut off one of the best roads in the North West Region. We are investigating to get to the bottom of the matter. How can Bali people destroy their own road cutting through the tarr! It is true that education was stopped but this was in the whole Region. Bali has distinguished itself by going too far to the extent of stopping the Church from functioning!”

 

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ALPHA HIGHER INSTITUTE DOUALA

 Alpha Professional Training Institute APTID was created on the 11^th of November 2007 under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training and four years, later Alpha Higher Institute Douala was created under the Ministry of Higher Education on the 12^th of January 2011.

In order to accomplish the mission that was laid down by the Ministry of Higher Education in Cameroon, that is to train students for Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degree Programmes, the institution created partnership with Madison International Institute & Business School in the United States of America, BUIB Biaka University Institute Buea and the University of Douala. The above programmes presently going on at the institution are supervised by these Higher Institutions of Learning.

Programmes offered include:

-Crash Programmes in ICT (Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher etc.)

-Ordinary National Diploma OND, 2 years with GCE O Level or BEPC in Assistant Nursing, Assistant Lab and Secretarial Studies (Aide Soignante, Aide Chimiste Biologiste)

-HND Higher National Diploma, 2 years with GCE A-level or BACC for Business Management and Finance  Specialisties.

-Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences 3 yea Business rs.

-Diplôme Supérieur de L’enseignement Professionnel (DSEP) en Soins Infirmière et Techniques de Laboratoire.

-Bachelor of Administration in nine months with HND or BTS or its equivalence.

-Bachelor of Science BSc in nine months with HND or BTS or its equivalence.

-Masters in Business Administration, MBA 2 years.

Duration of MBA

One year depending on Academic and Professional experience presented  backed with official proofs and authentic references. Those with very working experiences are exempted from most of the theories and principles focus the ed courses to concentrate more on  their dissertation and Integrated Case Study or Business Proposals to be certified with the MBA for a one year period or even less depending on the ability   of candidates to carry out his or her research as fast as possible for defense.

Campuses are located at Nouveau ISES Deido Douala and Behind Cimetière Kotto Bass, Bonaberri, Quatre Étages, Bonaberri, Behind Saint Joseph’s Parish Ndobbo, Douala and the Edea Campus at Rond Point Quartier d'armour.

Tel: +237674643064

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INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN CAMEROON

ITCIG , SENTTI and CISETEP Bamenda       

 

“Our Teachers Also study Sign Language & Braille Transcription”

-          Principal: Achecknew Emmanuel

Achecknew Emmanuel is the Principal of Special Educational Need Teacher Training Institute SENTTI which was authorised to open since 2007. The establishment trains Grade One and Special Need Teachers. Achecknew Emmanuel is equally the Acting Principal for CISETTEP which is Cameroon Inclusive Education Teachers Training and Empowerment Programme. He is the Coordinator of the various schools which function in the domain of training teachers for Special Education. There is also a third school in Yaounde; IBES SENTTI at Carrefour Obili at Saint Francis Primary and Nursery School.

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How did this initiative begin?

..............

Since 2007 we have sent out over 4000 teachers. These include Grade I Teachers in Special Need Education and Inclusive Teachers. We did this till 2015 when the Minister of Secondary Education realised that we were doing very good work and decided to step in. He ordered that Special Need Teachers Training be taken out and made a separate school. By so doing, two schools were created. You have CISETTEP with campus in Bamenda and IBES SENTTI in Yaounde which is an Evening School to train Cameroon Inclusive Special Need Teachers. Teachers Grade I Schools that we have are just the same like other Grade I Schools across the country leading to the award of Grade I Certificates or what is referred to in French as CAPIEM. However the difference between our teachers and the others is that ours carry out studies in Sign Language and Braille Transcribing and by the time they go out, many of them are very proficient in the communication skills. That’s why when you go round, many of our students are found everywhere. During graduations, employers usually rush to get some of them because of they are versatile. They are capable of accommodating pupils irrespective of their needs due to their inclusive training.

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What is the focus of CISETTEP?

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With the CISETTEP programme, we are out to recycle Grade One Teachers who did not undergo the Special Need Programme. That’s why the Ministry of Secondary Education created that school. They train teachers who will be able to accommodate children with special needs like those who are visually impaired, those living with hearing impairment, the physically challenged, the hyper active among others.Training has been going on well for Bamenda but for Yaounde people are still slowly getting to know that we are there. By this medium I wish to draw the attention of parents that there is also a branch of CISETTEP SENTTI in Yaounde known as IBES SENTTI which is an Evening School. Candidates who are based in Yaounde can go there.

You can find our graduates at the National Rehabilitation Center at Etougebe in Yaounde. You have Morning Star in Akum, the Treasure Center, the Bulu Blind Center in Buea among others. We also have candidates who came in from Chad.

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Considering the Bilingual Linguistic Background of Cameroon what do you do to take care of extra linguistic needs?

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This was specially taken care of at the time we were drawing the programme. French Language is considered a very important aspect of the training. We even bring in teachers from the Linguistic Center to help us so that candidates who leave here are also very proficient in the French and English Languages. That is why the Vice Principal of the school Simo Daniel is very bilingual.

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What have been some of the challenges that you’ve had and how have you handled them?

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Inclusive Education is still a new concept to many people are not usually certain about it. Secondly many of them come thinking that its just the ordinary fees that they pay in Secondary Schools. Considering that Inclusive Education is very expensive they are unable to pay. We can say that most students who come here go out without completing the fees. We are however happy that if they can go out and help the suffering of those in need then the proprietress Urwick Uginia will feel fulfilled since that’s one of the main objectives she had in mind when creating the institution. She has been putting in a lot to make the place work and has been running it at a loss.

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Do you have any last Message?

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We want to say that disability is not inability. Everybody has a degree of disability but this does not mean that with disability the person cannot function. With our help you can become much more functional with your disability and then contribute towards the development of your community. Disabled children are not as useless as we used to think. People used to lock up these children at home and took them for useless people. Times are changing with the coming to light of these new concepts. We are saying that parents, friends, relatives, mayors and those in authority should help bring out these children to us. We have a school for them.  There is a cost but not as high as it should have been if you had to take these children to distant specialised institutions.

 

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