No Trifling Matter: Contributions of an Uncompromising Critic to the Democratic Process in Cameroon

34 The Pre-Conditions of Meritocracy

100 dictator would always seek to dictate his own successor, and his choice cannot but be guided by considerations of personal loyalty, apparent or real. Now, loyalty to persons is something that can be completely dispensed with in a democratic and meritocratic system. Within such a system, all individuals are equally dispensable. We may therefore be loyal to principles and institutions, but not to persons as such. Some people express reservations about meritocracy because of the pluralistic nature of our society. But, barring past injustices which should be compensated, there is no group of human beings without its own geniuses, muscle men etc. A meritocratic system would not only be fair, it is liable to satisfy all. 3 34 The Pre-Conditions of Meritocracy (Published January 6-13, 1992) The last time, I talked about meritocracy within the context of democracy and kakistocracy. This time around, I wish to touch on what I consider to be the pre-conditions, the indispensable requirements of a meritocratic system. Based on the postulate that all human beings, as human beings, are absolutely equal, meritocracy recommends itself as the fairest and most rational system. But to treat people on the basis of merit rather than on the basis of their place of origin, tribe, family or linguistic affiliation, etc., requires a method of assessing merit that is objective and transparently fair. In the modern world, the most important prima facie criterion of merit is, no doubt, formal education. It is therefore crucially important that our system of formal education should have methods of assessment and certification that are objective and absolutely fair. A teacher, at whatever level, who awards marks or grades to a student/pupil which are not objectively related to performance, commits a crime whose gravity has so far been greatly 101 under-estimated. An action like that subverts a meritocratic system from its very foundations. In West Cameroon, at least, we can say that the First School Leaving and GCE examination systems are objective and fair methods of academic assessment. Teachers and pupils/students may engage in fraud during the years leading to these examinations, but the examinations themselves are usually fair because of the blind system of marking. A pupil/student who had got promoted from class to class as a favour rather than on merit would usually meet his/her “waterloo” at these examinations. If we check the details of performance at these exams, we would learn a lot of lessons regarding meritocracy. There has never been an occasion when only members of one single tribe performed well or even predominantly well in these examinations. There would, of course, be schools which outshine all others. But this is usually due to their local organisation and effectiveness of teaching. The individual students themselves who perform well will always be a veritable mixed bag of families, tribes, of all religious and social backgrounds. It is a very significant fact that, when the First School Leaving and GCE results are released, no one is ever heard to complain of discrimination on any grounds. Those who fail in the examinations look inward to themselves for the cause of their failure. The objectivity and fairness of these exams can be improved upon and extended to all levels of the academic enterprise. In this country, the objectivity and fairness of assessment at the primary and secondary school levels, at least in West Cameroon, is completely lost at the tertiary level. What reigns supreme at this level are fraud, favouritism, bribery, corruption, calculative bargaining and sheer chance. I challenge anybody to refute these claims. Take the University of Yaounde and its various affiliates - the University Centres, ENS, CUSS, ESTI, IRIC, Polytechnic, etc. What reigns in all these institutions is fraud, pure and simple. Do you remember why Prof. Jacob Ngu’s office was burnt last year? Well, like many other cans of worms accidentally opened, we firmly closed that can and have continued as if nothing ever happened. The frauds and rackets must not only continue but must be carefully covered to protect the sacred cows who practice them. 102 I know a student who was unable to register at the University five years ago, because of age limit, but who has successfully registered this year. I can never understand why anybody thought that people above 25 should not enter the University. But that is the rule at UNIYAO anyway; on paper, that is...