Over 8,300 candidates answered present on Friday October 4, 2013 in seven different centres around the country to take the first-ever national proficiency examination for entrance into Level One of six approved medical schools in Cameroon. The examination was one of the reforms introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education (MINESUP) in August 2013 to regulate medical training and improve the quality of health professionals.
The candidates were vying for 500 places for medical doctors, 150 places for pharmacists and 150 places for dental surgeons. If successful, they will study in any of the approved institutions: the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaounde 1, the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Buea, the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Bamenda, the Higher Institute of Health Sciences (ISSS) of "Université des Montagnes" in Bangangte as well as the Higher Institute of Medical Technologies (ISTM) in Nkolondom, Yaounde.
As early as 8:00 am, the candidates that included GCE "O" and "A" Level Certificate and Baccalauréat holders, science students from various universities as well as first, second and even third level students in some private medical training institutions, were full of anxiety in the campuses of the Universities of Yaounde 1, Douala, Dschang, Buea, Bamenda, Maroua and Ngaoundere that served as examination centres.
At the University of Yaounde 1, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Prof. Ebana Mvogo Côme, could be seen visiting the different examination halls spread around the campus to ensure that the over 4,300 candidates started at 10:00 am. Under the strict supervision of examiners and MINESUP officials, the candidates first took a written examination in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, using multiple-choice question and answer sheets. The second part of the written examination dwelled on General Knowledge.
At the end of the exercise, satisfaction could be noticed on the faces of a majority of the candidates. "The examination was within the reach of every average science student. The questions covered a wide range of science topics that we saw in college from the first to final year. I am confident," said a 19-year-old candidate, Olivier Kemgoue, a Level Two Bio-Chemistry student of the University of Yaounde 1.
According to Article 11 of the August 2, 2013 decision by the Minister of Higher Education stating modalities for the proficiency examination, a jury appointed by the Minister will establish a list of successful candidates eligible for a final entrance examination into the medical schools of their choice.
