Vice Chancellor abdicates responsibility as tensions escalate at the University of Bamenda

MMI has learned that the atmosphere on the University of Bamenda’s Bambili campus is tense. Many fear the tension could easily escalate if not checked.

This is because of a problem with the tuition fees for most of the institution’s Master’s and Ph.D. students.

Most disgruntled students say they were sent out of the examination hall early on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, over nonpayment of the last installment of tuition.

Some who had completed their fees were also booted out.

“This is happening now. Some Masters and Ph.D. students have been sent out of the hall as we begin our exams today,” a student told MMI.

The source said they were sent out for not completing their fees, though some are said to have paid huge sums of money already.

“We were to pay our fees in two installments totaling 560.000 Frs,” he said adding that “we have paid the first installment which is 310000 FCFA.”

He lamented that “after paying this amount they still sent us out of the classroom and even those who have completed their fees are not writing the exams.”

“Only 30% of the students have been allowed to write while about 70 percent of masters and Ph.D. students are not writing and even Naphi students.”

Most of the students told MMI that, the platform through which their fees are paid is dysfunctional, and they have been complaining to no avail.

MMI’s attempts to elicit a response from school officials were futile.

At the time of this report, MMI gathered that the situation might get out of hand as the Vice Chancellor, Theresa Nkou Akenji, and other top administrators are not on site.

By David Atangana