IRIC Scandal: Presidency reinstates six candidates in entrance exams

President Paul Biya has instructed the Minister of Higher Education, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo to add the names of six successful candidates on the list of those admitted into the Masters in Diplomacy programme of Cameroon’s Institute of International Relations (IRIC).

They include: Nti Estelle Nadia, Mebenga Lucien Thierry, Oyono Ottou Didier Herve, Ayuk Marguerite Josiane, Simeu Djoko Brice, and Minka Minyem Joseph.

The list published by IRIC on February 27, 2015 established that the aforementioned names plus nine other candidates had passed the written and oral sessions of the exams.

However, a new list of 15 successful candidates emerged the next day and excluded them from those admitted into the institute.

Critics immediately lambasted the organisers of the entrance exams and requested for clarifications on the procedure that led to the elimination of certain names, which were replaced by candidates linked to some top brass of the regime.

Political parties such as Ni John Fru Ndi’s Social Democratic Front (SDF) and Professor Maurice Kamto’s Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) denounced this “act of corruption” and requested that the victims be reinstated.

A political activists, Dr Vincent Sosthene Fouda also argued that it was a perfect scenario that ought to end with the resignation of Professor Ndongo as he did not understand how Nti Estelle, who was second on the first list failed to appear on the February 28, 2015 list.

On his part, Professor Ndongo published a communiqué to explain the technicalities of the selection process. His release indicated that the first list failed to respect a controversial policy known as “regional balance”, which ensures that the best candidates from the ten regions of Cameroon are represented on the list of admitted students into higher institutes of learning. Thus, the second list had as goal to implement this equilibrium.

The Minister of Higher Education equally announced that hierarchy had been consulted for a considerate decision to resolve the scandal.

President Biya’s instructions will therefore, lead to an increase in the number of admitted students from a traditional 15 to 21 places.

It should however, be noted that holders of a Masters in Diplomacy from IRIC have an advantage of being recruited as diplomats into the public service.