Cameroon: Simplified Military Training Concludes for NASLA’s Future Local Administrators

The 444 trainees who arrived at the Mutengene Police training centre on November 7 were taught good citizenship, patriotism and respect for institutions, maintenance of order, armament, tight order, discipline and respect for hierarchy, ethics, physical education and sports.

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

MUTENGENE, Cameroon – The National School of Local Administration, NASLA, has celebrated the successful completion of its second batch of the Simplified Military Training program for its trainees.

The one-month intensive training that ended on December 6, 2024, at the Police Training College in Mutengene, South West Region of Cameroon, was a pivotal component of NASLA’s comprehensive two-year curriculum for aspiring local administrators. This program further cements NASLA’s position as a leader in the training of public administration professionals in Cameroon.

“I am extremely satisfied because I am judging myself of the difference between what we saw when this exercise started, what we saw two weeks ago when we came here, and what we have seen today, which is a constant improvement,” NASLA Director-General Tanyitiku Bayee said.

“As I have had the opportunity to see elsewhere and otherwise, this is a very important part of our training. Important because we have as a mission in an elite school, like the National School of Local Administration, to train local public servants who are not only competent in the technical aspects of the job but also in the moral aspect.”

An institution for local public servants

The Simplified Military Training program is designed to instill qualities that go beyond academic proficiency. By integrating elements of military discipline and teamwork, NASLA ensures its graduates are prepared to navigate the complexities of local governance, especially in a decentralized and often challenging socio-political environment.

NASLA Director-General Tanyitiku Bayee added: “We hope to train people who have a sense of sacrifice, a sense of respect for the general interest, patriotism, civil responsibility, respect for hierarchy, respect for state institutions, but also to have a reserve in case of…

We know we have recently witnessed a spate of disasters and otherwise, that eventually can be mobilized if the state needs them. And so, we are not only looking at the academic and professional, but we are also looking at the interests of the state, eventually, if the need be.”

Highlight of the training

During the program, the trainees who arrived on November 7, a total of 444, were taught good citizenship, patriotism and respect for institutions, maintenance of order, armament, tight order, discipline and respect for hierarchy, ethics, physical education and sports, and chores.

Nith Pierre, Commander of the Mutengene Police Training College said: “To date, the CIAP high command has not noted any act of indiscipline on the part of the learners, whose availability, effective presence, active participation in the activities organized by the centre, rather seems to find the satisfaction of the team coaching.”

“In terms of health, apart from the students declared unfit by the NASLA chief medical officer, we have not recorded any significant cases of illness in the ranks. All students recognized as unfit were exempt from intense physical activities throughout the internship.”

In terms of the results, for Cycle A, economics and management of local taxation, 99 students were evaluated, and the success rate was 100%; for Cycle A, AGPS, 111 students from this cycle were evaluated, and the success percentage was 88.28%. For cycle B, AGPS management, a total of 115 students were assessed, and the pass percentage here is 91.30%. For Cycle B, EGFL, in total, 103 students were evaluated, for a percentage of 97.08%. So, overall, the success rate is 93.80% for students in cycle A, and 94.03% for students in cycle B.

Testimonials from Trainees

For many trainees, the Simplified Military training program was both challenging and transformative. “Having been present in the police training centre here in Mutengene for over a month, it was not easy but with determination and courage and encouragement from the staff you see that I have been able to go through and master most things that even my colleagues who are sighted could not do,” Meh Becajun Buh, a visually impaired trainee told Pan African Visions.

“So, it is by determination and knowing that despite the challenge or visual impairment that you have, you can still do it no matter what. There are people that put barriers but we the visually impaired, are determined to remove those barriers no matter what. So, we have been able to remove it at this one-month period.”

For another trainee, Kimberly Beltha Enow, they had courses like Firearms, Citizenship, and Respect for Hierarchy, and that's what really captured her attention. “We've been taught as local administrators that we are called to be, we are supposed to respect the hierarchy. We are not supposed to question each time we have given an instruction on how to accomplish a task. We are supposed to accomplish the task without asking questions,” she said.

The inclusion of Simplified Military Training in NASLA's curriculum underscores the importance of discipline, endurance, and teamwork in public administration. As Cameroon continues implementing decentralization reforms, local administrators play a critical role in bridging the gap between the central government and grassroots communities.

NASLA’s trainees, armed with the knowledge and skills gained from the Simplified Military Training program, are poised to become the backbone of local governance. As they return to their academic programs and prepare for future roles, their experience at Mutengene will undoubtedly shape their contributions to the nation’s development.