Yaounde: Higher education minister sanctions nine private institutions of learning.

According to the release, the sanctions were decided at the end of the 30th session of the National Commission for Private Higher Education, known by its abbreviation, CNESP, which held on August 28 in Yaounde.

The sanctions range from closure of campuses and courses to suspension of promoters, following grievances such as the manufacture of false diplomas and transcripts, and the opening of unauthorised training courses.

The sanctioned institutions include, the Higher Institute for Professionalism and Excellence, HIPEX, in Yaounde, suspended for two years for giving its students false transcripts. 

The institution is suspended for two years without prejudice to legal proceedings. The students concerned are suspended for two years, and the promoter is reprimanded and warned for lack of vigilance.

Also on the list is the International University of Bamenda, founded by Patrick Chefu Fusi, which has been closed for three years for issuing false diplomas and refusing to compensate a learner.

The release further required the Kesmonds Institute in Ngoundere to close its unauthorised PhD programme and limit its training to authorised courses. The promoter, Dr. Atanga Desmonds Afanwe, was given a warning for false advertising, using the name University without authorisation.

Vision University Institute in Mfou, Mefou and Afamba Division of the Centre Region was also sanctioned for opening unauthorised training courses in the undergraduate and post graduate programmes. The courses were shut down and the promoter, Daniel Youn, was tasked to reimburse the tuition fees of students enrolled in the courses.

There is also the University Institute for International Development, IUDI, in the Far North, which was accused of opening Bachelors, Master’s and PhD programmes without authorisation from the Ministry of Higher Education. The promoter, Prof Moussa Bongoyok, received a warning and the programmes were shutdown.

Poetel Higher Institute in Yaounde, promoted by Ngong Georges Fonyuy, was closed and banned from applying for accreditation for two years for operating without authorisation.

The three other establishments sanctioned in the press release relate to the follow-up of the resolutions of the 29th session of the CNESP. The Bertoua-based Higher Institute of Science, Technology and Agriculture, ISSMATA, is required to close its clandestine campus in Douala, while the Ngaoundere Institute for Emergence, Health and Biomedical Sciences, INESSBIN, was referred to the jury for fraud.

The Higher Institute of Professional Sciences and Technologies, ISPST, located in Ngong in the North Region, had all its campuses closed and its promoter, Beckly Smiyh Buma Nchamukong, suspended for three years, without prejudice to legal proceedings.

The press release concluded by stating that these sanctions have as aim to ensure the quality and integrity of higher education in Cameroon, and to protect students from fraudulent activities.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3220 of Thursday, September 5, 2024