Meeting under the theme
“The contribution of support staff to the appropriation of the concept of
quality in the university community”, members of the commission centered their
deliberations on the amelioration of working and living conditions of the
support staff of state universities.
Prof Emmanuel Ngamani,
head of the division for the promotion of dialogue and solidarity in
universities at the Ministry of Higher Education acknowledged that support
staff constitute one of the three components that make up the university
institution (others being teachers and students) without whom the university
cannot function. Thus, they have to be comfortable with the concepts of quality
and efficiency that will move their institutions forward.
Mrs Esther Lisinge,
head of the personnel division at the University of Buea told NewsWatch that
the university in question has made significant efforts towards facilitating
work for them at the institution. However, insufficient finances and the
non-training of new recruits are drawbacks to quality and efficiency.
“Many people are
recruited into the university with good qualifications but without experience.
This draws back the activities of the university”, she said. Another problem
she said is that unavailability of finances: “Most support staff lack
equipment; secretaries cannot be very efficient without computers, printers,
photocopiers and internet access”.
Speaking at the opening
ceremony of the session, Prof Jacques Fames Ndongo, Minister of Higher
Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders said the roles of the support staff
of state universities are spelt out in their job description which clarifies
their missions and level of responsibilities. He reminded the support staff of
state universities that their preoccupations have been integrated into the
daily management of university institutions.
It was in 2001 that
support staff of State universities started the fight for the improvement of
their working conditions. The decree regulating these working conditions was
ultimately signed by the president of the republic in 2012.
Representatives of
support staff from the universities of Bamenda and Maroua were attending the
session for the first time.
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