Conflict of authority mars entrance exams into HTTTC Kumba

From Njingang Godwin in Kumba

Nalova Lyonga: UB boss

The entrance exams into the newly-created Higher Technical Teachers’ Training College, HTTTC, Kumba has suffered three postponements because of what The Guardian Post has been reliably informed is a conflict of authority between the vice chancellor of the University of Buea, Pauline Nalova Lyonga and the HTTTC Kumba director, Joyce Bayande Endeley. Supposed to have been written since two months ago, the entrance test may only eventually hold in early December.

Joyce B. Endeley: HTTTC Kumba director

The Guardian Post has it on good authority that the University of Buea vice chancellor has ordered that the entrance exams questions; already set and moderated by heads of departments must be translated into French before candidates sit the test. The contract to translate the questions, evaluated at 15 MFCFA, The Guardian Post has been further hinted, has been awarded on the instructions of  Nalova Lyonga, to the director of the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters, ASTI, Buea.

Sources say the director of HTTTC Kumba, Joyce Endeley, was served a query by the University of Buea vice chancellor when she only tried to explain that being an Anglo-saxon sub system, it was not proper for the entrance exams questions to be translated into French. HTTTC Kumba department heads were reportedly told to go to hell when they also tried to explain to Nalova Lyonga that the entrance exams into HTTTC Bambili have never been translated into French neither has that into HTTTC Douala ever been translated into English.  

Already, fears are heightened that the exams questions may not only leak out in the course of the translation process but also that the move by the University of  Buea vice chancellor is intended to have more Francophones admitted into HTTTC Kumba at the expense of Anglophones. Five hundred students are supposed to be admitted into the institution this academic year.

Accused of what has been described as her over-bearing attitude and wanting to run HTTTC Kumba like a faculty under the University of Buea, Nalova Lyonga, The Guardian Post has been made to understand, in her blind and over-riding ambition to become minister is doing all to please the Yaounde authorities.

Contacted by phone to throw light on what has been perceived as a cold war with the University of Buea vice chancellor, HTTTC Kumba director, Joyce Endeley who admitted the entrance exams questions are being translated told The Guardian Post: “I am not in a better position to answer your questions. Find out from the University of Buea vice chancellor who took that decision.” She refused to take any further questions; saying she did not want to make any statement about the imbroglio.

Said not to be in talking terms with the director of HTTTC Kumba, Nalova Lyonga refused to comment on the matter when she was reached by phone last Saturday. First questioned whether she has given instructions that the entrance exams questions into HTTTC Kumba must be translated into French, the UB VC retorted: “How did you get this information?’’Attempts to answer her question met with an immediate response from her: “I have no answer to your question. Just go ahead and write what you have been told.” At this juncture, she hanged up the phone and refused taking calls from us.