October 28 has been set as the reopening day for the 2011/2012 school year in both ENS and HTTTC.

Pioneer faculties of the new University of Bamenda have just been created. Prior to this, the first two colleges (ENS and HTTTC) were already functional. On the spot in the Bambili Campus, the authorities of both colleges are almost set for the October 28, 2011 reopening day for the 2011/2012 academic year.

When Cameroon Tribune visited the campus, it was quite a busy atmosphere. The Service Head for Student Affairs in the Higher Teachers Training College, ENS, Dr Nguendjio Emile Gille, said they were “... on course with the academic and administrative registration of students. The process requires that Heads of Department screen required documents which determine the qualification of students before forwarding them to the Student Affairs Office for registration. It is all about formalities towards the issuing of student identity cards ahead of the new academic year; especially for fresh students,” he said.

Prof. Matthew Gwanfogbe, Interim Director of ENS, told Cameroon Tribune that the 2011/2012 academic year is coming with new challenges for the college which now operates within the context of the University of Bamenda. Dr Lukong Kenneth Mengjo, the Interim Director of the Higher Technical Teachers Training College, HTTTC is hopeful about the academic year during which the institution intends to begin going independent with the generation of finances for the running of BTS, HND and Master’s evening programmes.

He said HTTTC expects to benefit from the bulk of recently recruited lecturers for the higher education sector in Cameroon to beef up its staff strength of only 12 permanent lecturers. The Higher Technical Teachers Training College also hopes to have its students go outside the North West Region for teaching practice during the 2011/2012 academic year. The college will admit 1,524 students this academic year; up from 1,200 last year while about 300 are expected to graduate soon.

On the other hand, Dr Nguendjio Emile Gille says ENS will admit about 4,181 students this time around. It has 39 permanent and about 85 visiting lecturers. On hand to welcome students and lecturers are lecture halls with capacity to handle 1,000, 800 and 500 students plus the 600 seat capacity Asanji Hall.