By Doh James Sonkey
The Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo has announced to the national and international community that payment of the arrears of complementary bursaries to Cameroonian students enrolled in Universities and Schools of Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Morocco, Tunisia and Russia are ready. In an information notice No 2500 000222/MinETAT/MINESUP/Cab./YAa signed last June 5, 2025, the Minister of State said payments via Bank Transfers which is the regulatory route that the Ministry of Finance adopted since 2022, out of the FCFA 261 240 000 for the 2023/2024 academic year, 214 935 000 have been transferred into the Bank Accounts of Cameroonian students on State scholarships in 6 foreign universities, schools.
Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo underlined that ‘‘FCFA 7 000 000 relating to part of the 2023-2024 will be transferred by June, July 2025 by the Ministry of Finance to beneficiaries.
He explained that ‘‘in regards with the remaining FCFA 46 305 000 in complementary bursaries, appropriate steps are being taken to pay these arrears in accordance with the unorthodox management of public funds. The situation is as a result of technical difficulties identified by relevant departments of the Ministry of Finance (inactive accounts due to non-activation of student beneficiaries or incorrect bank details.)
The students concerned have been instructed on receipt on supporting documents from the various Cameroonian embassies abroad to reactivate their inactive bank accounts.’’
The Higher Education boss concluded that ‘‘concerning the over-the-counter payments by paymasters of Cameroonian embassies abroad, are made at the diligence of the Ministry of Finance and in proportion to the availabilities of Public Treasury. This operation is being carried out rigorously, methodically and serenely in accordance with very high directives of the President of the Republic, H.E Paul Biya and under the authority of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute.’’