Douala university professor laments university sends out unqualified medical practitioners

This was revealed in an interview granted to a Douala-based Television channel, and subsequently on his Facebook page. The Cardiologist, Professor Aime Bonny, said he is saddened by the low quality of medical students graduating from the medical faculty at the university of Douala.

The Professor said only 20% of students attend his classes but at the end of their coursework, dozens will be graduating. So who made them qualified medical practitioners when they were not attending classes? He asked the rhetorical question.

“I consider that the chronic and generalized absenteeism rate in several medical faculties in Cameroon makes promoted teachers without merit. In all intellectual honesty, I have therefore decided to hand in my academic title. From now on, consider me Doctor Aimé BONNY and not Professor,” he said.

Professor Bonny thinks that the entire teachers in the faculty of medicine at the University of Douala have to stand up and defend his course, but no one seems to be interested “The funniest thing is that when I complained about this situation t my colleagues, none of them uttered a word. I took a picture of the students in class and dropped it in our WhatsApp forum, but no one commented.”

Another University don, Professor Bahebeck, corroborated the statement from his Douala colleague, adding that the situation is not only in Douala but all over Cameroon. Medical students no longer go through rigorous training so that they can better handle their patients tomorrow, he said.

“What Bonny said is true but since he knows only Douala, he is not aware that its a national problem…the level has dropped drastically”

Commenting on the issue, a Cameroonian told Professor Bonny that, “the laxity of your students should not make you demote, since you are already a Professor, you cannot demote anymore. I understand your humility, I understand your struggle, I understand your intellectual honesty, but, before your students were absentees, you had passed all the steps to be a world teacher. If Cameroonian students are lax in their studies, is it the same in other universities in the world where you train doctors? I think not! You, therefore, remain a Professor in view of those you train outside Cameroon.”