University of Buea Students Disrupt Classes

The strike which started yesterday Wednesday, February 6, 2013, saw the disruption of classes and Continuous Assessments sessions dubbed "CA", throughout the campus. According to the University of Buea Students' Union (UBSU) presidential hopeful, Kalie Dante, the decision to protest was taken because "dialogue has failed" in UB.

"This is neither the first nor the second time that we have gone to the administration but the Vice Chancellor, Dr Nalova Lyonga, chased us away. I wonder in which generation you will not allow dialogue to solve problems," he confided to CT. "We the students and the administration are equal partners for the development of this University," he insisted.

The students are clamouring for the businesses which were grounded in that campus since December 25, 2012 following the end of the business operators' contracts. Ever since the business persons re-applied, they are still waiting for the contracts to be reinstated. Asongtia Felicity, a Level 400 Literature in English student, decries the absence of photocopying machines on campus. Among other demands, Kalie Dante says the students want the following: Extra credits granted to students especially those at the final year; ameliorate the quality of food at the students' restaurant; UBSU elections should respect UBSU constitution not according to the terms of the UB administration; the making of students' identity cards should be hastened; getting free transcripts per student for each academic year.

At press time yesterday, the Vice Chancellor Dr Nalova Lyonga who was due to address the students, was held hostage in her car in front of the staff canteen for over three hours. The tyres of her car were punctured. The Mayor of the Buea Council is reported to have brought in a vehicle which finally took the VC away from the scene. All attempts by CT to get comments from any UB official were futile.