D’la varsity rector issues 15-day ultimatum to absentee lecturers.

The information is contained in a statement Prof Ondoa issued days ago in which he is threatening sanctions on staff who stay away from their duty posts.
Prof Ondoa, in the statement disclosed that some 80 lecturers in the University of Douala have not resumed work since the 2024/2025 academic year went underway. 
He warned that those who don’t show up will be considered as irregular workers with possibility of disciplinary sanctions in line with the laws in force.
The decision, the rector also said, is highly needed to address the growing phenomenon of lecturers staying away from school. 
He indicated that there are reports of some lecturers who have travelled out of the country in search of better opportunities but want to continue earning salaries.
Prof Ondoa equally stressed the need for lecturers to return to the amphitheatres and fulfil the mission for which the State is paying them. The decision by the Rector, a source is quoted as having said, is a step toward restoring accountability and stability within the institution.
Absenteeism within the school milieu, he added, poses a significant challenge in maintaining quality and continuity for learners 
To note that in recent years, government has been battling to contain the wave of teachers especially in the secondary education domain travelling abroad. 
The same phenomenon is affecting the health sector with most nurses and doctors also reported to have abandoned their duty posts for other opportunities abroad.
Not long ago, the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform, Joseph Le, announced that any public servant absent for more than 30 days risks dismissal from his/her duty post. 
Speaking during the July 25, 2024 cabinet meeting, Minister Le emphasised the importance of people being present at their duty posts. He said salary is payment for work done and not resources given by the State for incomplete work.
According to a 2022 report by the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Cameroon lost approximately 23,000 skilled workers in 2020. The same report estimated the number to be the equivalent of 2.2% of the country’s qualified workforce.
Unofficial reports on the other hand projected that roughly 6,000 professionals comprising mostly teachers, doctors, and nurses left the country in recent times.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3274 of Tuesday October 29, 2024