We will start with what we have

-Dr. Joyce Endeley, pioneer provost HTTTC Kumba
By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

Dr. Joyce Endeley

The Director of the newly created Higher Technical Teachers Training College, Kumba, Dr. Joyce Endeley has revealed that the School is ready in all domains to take off in October. This has laid to rest concerns from some quarters that the school was not ready infrastructure wise. She talked to The Median on the sidelines of her visit to the University of Bamenda accompanied by a delegation of five lecturers to take part in the Higher Technical Teachers Training College Bambili Open Door Days.

You are the Pioneer Director of the newly created HTTTC Kumba. How prepared is the school for take-off in the next academic year?

Thank you for this interview. We are prepared. We are not perfect but we are prepared. We have the site and the offices. The office is situated at the former PWD building on the Buea road and then we are quite lucky that we have three Government Technical High Schools in what is called “Sofati” which is in Barombi Kang. There again, we also have another Government Technical High School. And then we have CCAST Kumba. That is the environment where we will have our classes. You may be glad to know that the “Sofati’ constructed by Canadians has many workshops especially the engineering section. They also have some equipment, even if they are not the best. But if we did not have a school of that nature around it would have been more difficult for us to start. We are going to start from scratch but that is something. So we will build on what we have; we will improve on the workshops. We are definitely going to start in October.

Where can parents and students get information about HTTTC Kumba?

Oh! thank you very much for that question. They should visit the University of Buea website at www.ubuea.cm. There, they will be able to download the decision which gives all the information they need for the entrance examination, the documents to compile for this activity and the application form. We bank with Ecobank and the numbers are there. So if they visit the website they will have no problem whatsoever. All they need is to access www.ubuea.cm and all information they need about admission into the first and second cycle will be available.


How ready is the Kumba population?  

Oh they are so excited. I mean it is like a new thing in town. In the mornings even those who are not of the age to go to secondary school pass by to see what is happening. If you watched TV two days ago you would have seen that the people are very enthusiastic. The Minister was there, the Governor, the SDO, the DOs, the Government Delegate; everybody is lending a hand.

What about the lodging?

We have not thought about that yet but if you look at the technical high schools, a lot of them are schools where students rent accommodation but I am sure that Kumba people need to prepare to receive above 500 people. We are praying God that the number should not escalate the price of houses. I am sure the SDO, DO’s and others will discuss on how to moderate the rates.

You have just witnessed the maiden edition of HTTTC Bambili Open Door Day, any experience gathered?

Oh yes! We have gained something. You know as a pioneer in Kumba it does not mean it does not exist any where in Cameroon. We are very grateful to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda and the Director of HTTTC Bambili for inviting us. I came with a delegation of five from HTTT Kumba. And all in all we came to see what they are doing, to exchange knowledge and to advertise ourselves to the population of Bamenda. We think that it is not a joke in the sense that we expect students to be producing products and what is appreciative is the fact that we have seen products not talking. And at the end of the day we are thinking that if we are going to do our own Open Door Day, we will copy this example. We are thinking hard that our own will be sooner than later and it will be to let the people to know the importance of technical education. But before I end, permit me to use this medium again to appreciate the sisterly love extended to us by the University of Bamenda. More especially I will want to thank the Vice Chancellor and the Director of HTTTC Bambilli.