University of Buea: Teachers' strike nipped in the bud

Confidence Nduru, 20, sounded happy gaining his admission to the Faculty of Arts, Humanities of the University of Buea. On Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, after consultation with the board indicating schedules for teachers to meet to finalize the University's academic orientation, the 250 seater amphitheater had a very academic atmosphere.

Over 200 students of the Department of Educational Sciences soaked in the knowledge dispensed by Dr. Fabien Ninkam. He took them through technology and the importance of evaluation in the formation of a learner. For him, he is not following the strike launched by the local branch of the National Union of Higher Education in Cameroon.

Several other teachers who were seen in the halls of the University of Buea on 20th October ignored this directive. Edisson Ngon, a student of Faculty of Science, was unaware of the directive of Synes especially after he joined a geology lecture throughout the day.

Professor Roland Ndip, general secretary of the University of Buea thinks the approach of the members of the Local Synes is not encouraging. The issue of claiming research bonuses backed by the directive to strike is a national concern. It applies to the State Universities of Cameroon. So it is up to the Minister of Higher Education to address this claim, according to the university.

Still, despite our many efforts we have not been able to contact the local officials of Synes. The mobile phone of Dr Neba Fontem, the local secretary of the organization, has been off all day.

Since the case in June 2013 of 32 teachers from the University of Buea in the wake of a strike that was led by students of this institution, the faculty had been indexed by the administration as "mentors" or the "sponsors" of the protests so that since then, they are more willing to follow the arguments of Synes.

Only the local coordinator of Synes, Dr Angbwa and Dr. Niba Fontem still wear all corporatist demands by teachers in Buea. However, throughout the day on Monday reporters of La Messager were unable to locate them on the campus of the University of Buea.

They dodged the vice-chancellor of the institution, Dr. Nalova Lyonga Pauline Egbe who decided to break this trend by any means. Having toured the campus with members of her staff, she spent much of her time to report the situation to her superiors in Yaounde. And it will not be quiet, as members of Synes have not redefined the strike action for their claim.