Prof. Tafah Edocat Edward, Vice Chancellor of UBa talks to Cameroon Tribune.

Could you size up preparations ahead of the 2012/2013 academic year in the University of Bamenda?

The State University of Bamenda is currently finalising re-sit examinations. We are also preparing competitive examinations into the respective schools. At the time I am talking to you, we have scheduled all the examinations to run from September 29th to mid-October, 2012.

While doing this, we ensure that lectures are on course for second year or returning students of the University of Bamenda. Also remember that our two old schools (HTTC and HTTTC) are sending out third and fifth year students for teaching practice while the three new schools of the University are rounding up their second semester examinations to enable them come to the same alignment with the other schools of the University.

Which challenges stare the University of Bamenda in the face?

Daunting challenges on our way include acute problems of infrastructure and inadequate number of lecturers. The five schools of the University of Bamenda are using the same infrastructure initially meant for the two pioneer schools of the University - HTTC and HTTTC. A new batch of students will soon be around without any increase in infrastructure. The infrastructure that we have can conveniently contain First, Second and Third Year students of HTTC and HTTTC and those of Level One of the other three schools.

In the face of the problems, we expect to welcome for use, one new lecture block with 1,000 seats that is being roofed. We also intend to use a building at Mile III, Nkwen-Bamenda offered to the University by an elite of the Region, Mr Francis Yong. We have equally obtained authorisation from the Rector of the University of Dschang to refurbish a 100-capacity building at the Antenna of the University of Dschang in Bambili in our endeavour to handle between 7,500 and 8,000 students in the 2012/2013 academic year. Concerning the problem of lecturers, I regret the fact that out of the 25,000 young Cameroonians recruited into the Public Service and posted to the University of Bamenda, are many very young staff who are very inexperienced.

Where is the need for lecturers most felt?

The acute shortage of lecturers is most crucial in the Faculty of Health Sciences and ENSET or HTTTC. Most of those schools have Heads of Departments and no staff to handle classes. That is why we would continue to depend on other State Universities for part-time lecturers.