SYNES UB Terms Re-sit Exams Calculated Attempt to Use Staff as Guinea Pig

NDIMUH B. SHANCHO

The Executive of the National Union of Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES) Buea chapter have divulged that “given the kidnapping of some staff of the University of Buea, and the various threats others have been receiving from some unknown persons, organizing re-sit under this circumstance is a calculated attempt to use the staff as guinea pig for some experiment”. The re-sit examinations were scheduled to start from September 2, 2019, same day a-14-day lockdown in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon announced by separatist leaders is supposed to start.

Meeting, August 31, 2019, in an extraordinary meeting to assess and evaluate the situation of payments in the University of Buea and the timing of the 2019 re-sit examinations in that citadel of learning, SYNES-UB leaders said “given the deplorable financial situation of lecturers, as most of them have now left their houses and are renting, it will not be worthwhile risking their lives”

They added that writing the re-sit examinations at this point in time is life-threatening given the hostile socio-political climate of the region. In a communique, September 1, 2019, signed by the SYNES-UB President, Professor James Abangma and his Vice, Professor Martin Sango, the executives appealed to the UB administration to effect payment of staff bonuses and look for a more appropriate and conducive date for re-sit examinations in the University of Buea.