The 2018 Bar examination: controversy

The dust of the Cameroon bar examination has settled following a declaration by the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, that the exams reflected the competitive nature of the profession.

The Minister’s declaration came after some 500 candidates who failed the exams petitioned its conduct.

Only about 44% of the over 1381 trainees were aspirants to the legal profession.

Some of the trainee lawyers did not take part in the written tests which ended on 18th February 2018 in Yaounde.

According to the statements of the president of the Cameroon Bar Association Ngnie Kamga on media channels on Saturday 17th February, fake diplomas discovered during their internship period. “During their internship, a list of non-compliant trainee lawyers was drawn up and circulated in the batch forum,” hinted a candidate.

Besides the thirty or so aspiring holders of fake diplomas, other irregular candidates during internship conferences were not admitted into the examination rooms of the 2018 Bar.

During the obligatory two years internship, trainees are obligated to attend internship conferences every Saturday for a period of nine months.

If a trainee misses up to ten of these conferences, that means he did not fulfil the quota necessary for the exercise of the professional lawyer.

It during these conferences that the candidates acquire the techniques of pleading and especially the deontology essential to the exercise of the profession.

The 2018 Cameroon Bar controversy also stemmed from the incredible rate of failure recorded. 66% of those who sat the exams made it compared to the past whose success rate was 100%.

For some people the reviewers were strict but some others think that the rate was due to the applicants’ poor level.

For some candidates, they say they were subjected to the test of general culture on “Nation, Culture and Identify” at the opening of the examination on Saturday 17th February 2018 which most did not master.

 

Bruno Ndonwie Funwie

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