Cameroon opposition leaders oppose increase in Bacc exam fees

Leaders of the Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) and the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) have opposed a recent government decision raising Baccalaureate exam fees by 25%, The Guardian Post Newspaper has reported.

In separate reactions, the CDU leader, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya, and the PCRN President, Cabral Libii, condemned the move as provocative and unjustifiable.

On September 12, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Secondary Education in charge of Teacher’s Training, Boniface Bayoula, announced an increase in Baccalaureate examination fees from FCFA 9,000 to 12,000

A circular he sent to the 10 Regional Delegates of Secondary Education indicated that “The Minister of Secondary Education informed officials of the Office du Bacc (OBC) that the registration fee has been moved from its traditional 9,000 FCFA to 12,000 FCFA.”

The decision sparked mixed reactions from parents whose children attend the French subsystem of education in Cameroon, which takes the Bacc exam.

In a statement reacting to the increase, the CDU party chair, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya, termed it “inopportune, suffocating, and provocative”.

“The decision has no justification mentioned, nor is there any precision as to the destination of the additional resources envisaged through its department in charge,” the CDU leader said.

“It is unacceptable in a context marked by the ever-increasing cost of living.”

The CDU politician, who is the Mayor of Foumban, was categorical in saying that the increase instead contributes to an “increase in the cost of public services without compensation in terms of quality of service for the benefit of the population in the area concerned.”

Similarly, the President of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation, Hon. Cabral Libii, said the increase is unjustifiable.

He regretted that, since 2022, the government has announced price increases in several sectors in the country, including foodstuffs, petroleum products, and gas, as well as public services like official stamps.

In most cases, no reasons are given for such increments. He regretted that the overbearing Cameroonian public would just have to swallow their grudges and abide by the unfavourable government decisions.