Anglophone Crisis:

Life timidly returns at UB

By Boris Esono in Buea

Calm and tranquility is slowly returning to the University of Buea after close to four months of students absenting from school. This comes as students have begun returning from what they called ‘’Easter holiday’’. However, this enthusiasm is not shared by many students who still maintained that this school year has been cancelled and anybody going to school now is just wasting his/her time.

                To ForbangDioudonne, a level 400 JMC student ‘’ Going to school now is not on his agenda as it would be better for him to look for something and start doing because an certificate gotten now will not be valid anywhere one applies to study. Even in neighboring Nigeria, you will not be accepted because you do not have enough experience to compete with them’’.

                On her part, Elvira Matong is of the opinion that ‘’students should come to school as they are missing a great deal. Even if the school year is cancelled, they still can benefit from the lectures that will help them when they enroll next academic year. Since as the teachers are in class, the students should also be available’’

                Since January 2017, the number of students coming to school has gradually increased significantly. Some of the students say it is better to come to school than staying at home because the government of Cameroon has not declared a blank school year and staying at home will mean missing lectures.

                The situation in UB is all the same troubling as some lecturers in some departments are teaching while students are at home. Going to some classes, it is normal to see a lecturer in class teaching two to ten students. In other classes, the number is great with about fifty students answering present.

                With examinations set for March 15, it is not clear whether these students will brave the odds to come to school. In this same light one begs to ask the questions that how will UB students get to learn in this 21st century Cameroon with no internet connection. How will these students especially 400 levels go about with fulfilling UB requirement of doing project. Or those who are involve in online studies. Internet connection is very vital in any society, Cameroon included.

                Whatever the case, students in the University of Buea has and will continue to miss a lot as far as their studies is concerned. One major thing that has been forgotten is what happens to thee graduation ceremony of last year that was postponed. Some of these students have travelled abroad and others are out of thee SWR looking for where to make earns meet. How will they come and graduate, one does not know.