CI-NEWS

Alleged under-representation of indigenes in Ngaoundere University: Prof Melo Chinje sets records st

2020-06-08

No: 501

Alleged under-representation of indigenes in Ngaoundere University: Prof Melo Chinje sets records straight.

By GEORGE Etoh Anzah in Bamenda.

Professor Uphie Melo Chinje rector of the University of Ngaoundere has refuted allegations that her institution has no fair share of representation by indigenes of Ngaoundere.

In an interview granted to state broadcaster CRTV she used the opportunity to debunk accusations contained in a memorandum published by L'oeil du Sahel (a French newspaper) purportedly signed by some students of her institution.

In the signed memorandum, the students pointed out the uneven representation of staff and auxiliary workers in the school. To break this almost accepted myth, she revealed that contrary to a total of 21 lecturers as presented by the students there exist 58 lecturers from the Adamawa region teaching in the institution, giving a 12% representation.

On the support staff, a total of 52 personnel were presented as coming from Adamawa, a far cry from the figure of 88 given by Prof. Uphie Chinje which represents 20% of the university population.

In addition it was claimed in the memo that students take classes on cement blocks as against regular benches and that modern lecture halls were not available, but Upie Melo countered that a lot has been done since assumption of duties as rector for the past 3 years. The veterinary school which has existed for over 5 years has been blessed with a 500-seat amphi theatre lecture hall including the equipping of laboratories, the rehabilitation of the schools of humanity (FALSH) situated in Dang and the school of mining (EGEM) situated in Meiganga, the rehabilitation of 14 classrooms of 1000 seats each, and near completion of the pedagogic block of her annex school of Garoua. Other achievements of hers include construction of a modern sports gymnasium and extension of the school stadium to accommodate 30.000 spectators.

Though no indigene has been a dean and none is assistant director despite the 18 places available ,Ngaoundere holds 1 out of 6 directors, 3/18 vice Deans and heads of division and 4 out of 79 heads of department.

In addition to the 88 on a total of 595 lecturers , admission to the Ecole Normale Superieure Bertoua, an annex of the school ranges from 30% to 100% giving an approximated 11.8% representation for Adamawa alone as against 5.9 for the NW and SW regions combined.

With the above figures presented, she insisted considering that the publication is championed by students, the validity cannot be trusted. She further added as a result of her closeness and openness to the students she gained for herself the title "La Mummy", a fair connotation of a mother at all times.

Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus, studies in all higher education institutions were suspended with the E-learning process implemented. With the recent June 1st resumption, measures, she added, have been implemented to ensure a COVID-19 free school environment. Buckets with taps and liquid soap will be placed at multiple entrance points into the school, the presence of health officials and thermo flashes to check body temperature, hand gels produced and funded by the school have equally been made available. At the entrance of the faculties and schools as well as administrative offices a similar provision will be made available. There should be no panic as she insisted students without face masks will be provided one.

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Alleged under-representation of indigenes in Ngaoundere University: Prof Melo Chinje sets records st