University Education:

Authorities review LMD system

By Rachel NtubeNgwese

The Minesup, Jacques Fame Ndongo

The Bachelor’s-Masters-Doctorate LMD system of study was under review on Friday last week when authorities of public and private universities and those of other higher institutions of learning met in Yaounde. The university dons met within the framework of the official presentation of the report of the inspectorate general for academic affairs on the analysis and evaluation of the training offered in state and private universities in 2015, to the minister of higher education Prof. Jacque Fame Ndongo.

                A review of the 239 page report revealed a dynamism of the professionalization of teaching since the presentation of academic courses offered still remains strong representing 83 percent of enrolment as against 17 percent in professional courses especially in faculties of science, arts and letters, and in areas such as agriculture and engineering which do not suit the guidelines laid down by the growth and employment strategy paper.

                Other problems relating to the specificities of the different training institutions not corresponding to the three stage training system were also evoked and deliberated upon. These included professional certificates like the BTS and those issued by higher teachers training colleges which do not correspond exactly to any of the three certificates under the LMD system.

                Moreover, inter-state studies that are between first degree and masters’ level, and between masters and doctorate levels also posed another bone of contention especially concerning the issue of Maitrise and Masters 1 since the LMD system does not make provision for certificates for students who have not been able to cross over from one stage to another.

              In other to remedy these lapses, the minister of higher education said that greater autonomy needs be given to universities to enable them construct solutions that suit the specificities of their institutions. He added that it will not be pragmatic to stop granting to students certificates like the maitrise which is a precondition to sit for the concours into the school of magistracy.

                To ameliorate the training programs under the LMD system therefore, some major recommendations were made including the gradual and consensual harmonization of higher education training offered in order to render it more coherent and intelligible; renovating the pedagogic methods of state universities and decompartmentalizing the disciplines and institutions in a bid to render training courses more flexible and professional.