Candidates Decry Overlapping Entrance Exam Dates for ENS Buea and ENSET Kumba

By Njoh Linda

Several candidates have raised serious concerns over what they describe as a poorly coordinated schedule for the 2026 competitive entrance examinations into teacher training institutions in Cameroon.

In messages sent to MMI News, applicants lamented that the entrance examinations into École Normale Supérieure Buea and ENSET Kumba have both been fixed for the same date March 15, 2026.

This overlap, they argue, unfairly disadvantages candidates who registered for both examinations in an effort to improve their chances of admission.

“I went in for both exams. Now they are scheduled on the same day. How are we supposed to manage?” said one candidate who requested anonymity. “I can’t tell how many of us are affected, but I’m one of them for sure.”

Official Release Fixes Exams on Same Day

According to an official communiqué signed by the Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, the examinations have been scheduled to take place on a single day across all centers nationwide.

While the move may be intended to ensure administrative uniformity, candidates say it ignores the realities faced by many applicants who apply to multiple institutions as a survival strategy in an increasingly competitive system.

Multiple Complaints Received

MMI News has received several complaints from applicants who deliberately registered in different centers to “multiply their chances” of success.

For many, sitting for more than one competitive exam is seen as the only realistic pathway into higher education and public service careers.

With the exams now overlapping, affected candidates are being forced to choose between institutions—effectively nullifying months of preparation, financial sacrifices, and registration fees.

“This is not just about convenience,” another applicant told MMI. “It is about fairness. We paid, prepared, and followed the rules. Now the system is working against us.”

Questions Over Planning and Coordination

The situation has raised broader questions about planning and coordination within the Ministry of Higher Education.

Education analysts note that overlapping competitive exams reflect weak consultation and limited consideration for students’ realities, especially in a context where unemployment is high and access to professional training remains limited.

“This kind of scheduling sends the wrong message,” said a university lecturer in the South West Region. “It suggests that the system is more focused on bureaucracy than on students’ welfare.”

Calls for Urgent Review

Affected candidates are now calling on the Ministry to urgently review the examination calendar, either by rescheduling one of the exams or introducing special arrangements for registered candidates.

They argue that without prompt action, many qualified students may be unfairly excluded from opportunities that could shape their future careers.

“As authorities talk about promoting education and youth empowerment, actions like this contradict that message,” one candidate said.

For now, uncertainty continues to loom over hundreds of applicants who must decide whether to forfeit one exam or risk missing both.

As March 15 approaches, stakeholders are urging the Ministry to listen to the voices of students and take corrective measures before irreversible damage is done.