By NOELA EBOB BISONG
The president of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya, last March 2, 2020, signed a decree containing 76 articles, on the establishment, organisation and functioning of the National School of Local Administration (NASLA).
To be based in Buea, NASLA, a Public Administrative and Professional establishment with financial autonomy, is said to be under the technical and financial supervision of the ministries in charge of Regional and Local Authorities and that of Finance. The establishment shall be governed by two bodies, namely; The Board of Directors and The Directorate General
According to the decree, the institution shall provide trainings such as diploma initial training, in-service training, specific taining and applied research on the management of Regional and Local Authorities.
In its Article 34, the decree reads that “The diploma iniatial training offered by NASLA shall comprise three (3) cycles with admission by competitive entrance examination: Cycle A for senior executives of local administration, Cycle B for mid-level staff of local administration and Cycle C for specialised workers of local administration all within a duration of two years backed by a diploma.
The in-service training for its part will be for six months.
It is also said that NASLA may implement applied research projects or organise colloquia, seminars or conferences on issues related to the implementation of decentralisation to promote local development.
The decree further reads that “…competitive entrance examinations shall be open to candidates who are Cameroonians, aged at most thirty-five (35) on 1 January of the year of the examination and holdrs of a Bachelor’s degree or a recognised equivalent, for Cycle A; a Baccalaureat, GCE Advanced Level or a recognised equivalent, for Cycle B; a GCE Ordinary Level or a recognised equivalent, for Cycle C.”
The competitive entrance examinations shall be launched by an order of the Minister in charge of Regional and Local Authorities and the instrument launching the exam shall determine the number of seats, the requirements, the programme and the date for the examination of each cycle.
Following Article 41, foreign candidates shall be admitted based on a review of their files, or where applicable, in accordance with the provisions of agreements signed with NASLA and international obligations of the State, subject to the number of seats available and after approval by the Minister in charge of regioanl and Local Authorities.