At private higher education forum: Minister Fame Ndong challenges institutions to train job creators….

He was speaking at the 2024 Private Higher Education forum organised by the Department for the Development of Higher Education in the Ministry of Higher Education. 

The gathering was held under the theme: “Building a university-business in private higher education in Cameroon”. 

It was attended by higher education stakeholders from across the country including proprietors and managing officials of private universities. Participants looked at how to consistently improve teaching to address contemporary needs.

They also looked at how to fully transition from the former higher education orientation which dueled mainly on the professionalization of education to the recently adopted version centered around building business-oriented universities. 

The new model, experts say, makes higher education institutions catalysts for job creation.

Minister Fame Ndongo who chaired the event, visited stands of different institutions. The displays were made at the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex.

Time to see beyond prototyping 

According to Prof Fame Ndongo, it is time for higher institutions of learning to go beyond the phase of enjoying the misleading comfort zone of prototyping. 

He told stakeholders to shift attention to more result-oriented practices as instructed by the Head of State through the new higher education orientation law designed to strongly boost development. 

The minister saluted the level of creativity of institutions but said much is still needed. Prof Fame Ndongo said schools must strive to become enterprises and profitable ventures that train professionals.

Radical approach needed to give youngsters chance to excel 

He added that leaders must be radical and resolute to hit the required transformation mark desired by the nation to boost its economic and development wellbeing. 

Prof Fame Ndongo said the country is blessed to have highly-intelligent and creative students capable of pushing through with the agenda.

He insisted that all that is needed is for institutions to put in place systems that give the youngsters the required platforms to excel. 

“We must create jobs for our country, our subregion Central Africa, our region Africa and for the world and we have really intelligent students who can do that,” the minister said. 

Standardization crucial in transformation drive

Minister Fame Ndongo in his interview also emphasized the need for private universities to embrace standisation and become effective enterprises.

The minister urged the institutions to among others to ensure that their products are verified and validated by the standards and quality agency, ANOR and the Ministry of Public Health.

He cited the case of fruit juice produced by an institution but asked it has been certified by the competent institution.

Sector stakeholders heeding state’s calls 

Most of the participants said they are already heeding to calls from the state to modernise trainings.

The founder of the Siantou University Institute, Lucien Siantou Wantou, said his institution is gladly working in accordance with the new orientation law in areas like technology at the center of the activities. 

The Managing Director of the Higher Institute for Professionalism and Excellence, Dr Kebuya Nathaniel Nganchi, said his institution which is affiliated to the University of Bamenda, is thriving in fashion, clothing, textile, hotel management, home economics and a host of other areas. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3241 of Thursday September 26, 2024