The 2010 session of the Higher National Diploma Examinations (HND) is declared open as from the date of signature of the present press release.

PRESS RELEASE N°10-0010 MINESUP/DDES/PEEX/SEX OF 15 JANUARY 2010


TO DECLARE OPEN THE 2010 SESSION OF THE HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND) EXAMINATIONS.


THE MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION HEREBY ANNOUNCES THAT,


The 2010 session of the Higher National Diploma Examinations (HND) is declared open as from the date of signature of the present press release.


I – ORGANISATION OF THE NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS


The session of the Higher National Diploma (HND) examinations scheduled for June-July 2010 shall take place in the centres of Bamenda (ENS Annex at BAMBILI), Douala and Yaounde.


The Higher National Diploma Examinations shall have two compulsory forms :


· Practicals ;

· Written examinations (written papers and thesis defence).



II– APPLICATION FILES AND REGISTRATION MODALITIES


1. The candidates of the HND exams could have either the status of internal candidate or external candidate. The internal candidate (new or old) is presented by and can justify of at least two academic years or four semesters in an approved or accredited Institution of Higher Education. The external candidate is anyone who failed in one or many sessions of HND exam and is not presented by an Institution of Higher Education .


2. Application files


The Internal candidate’s application file to sit for the HND examinations shall include the following documents:


a) An application form (model provided by the Ministry of Higher Education) to stamp according to the usages in force, properly filled and signed by the competent authorities;

b) Two transcripts for the four semesters spent in an approved or accredited Institution of Higher Education, signed by the competent authorities;

c) A certified true copy of the GCE Advanced Level in at least two subjets excluding “Religious knowledge”, or the Baccalaureat, or equivalent qualifications recognised by the Minister of Higher Education, excluding “Capacité en Droit”;

d) A certified legible true copy of the candidate’s birth certificate not more than 3 months old on the date of submission of the application ;

e) One or more HND result Transcripts, for old candidates ;

f) A large self-addressed envelope, stamped at the rate in force;

g) A testimonial showing that the candidate has successfully undergone a satisfactory internship or workshop experience in a business enterprise during the course study;

h) A receipt of full payment of the examination fees carrying the field, the speciality, the name as well as the signature of the authority of the School to whom the fees were paid.

i) A receipt of application for equivalence (for foreign diplomas, GCE A/L or BACC).


The External candidate’s application file to sit for the HND examinations shall include the following documents:


a) An application form (model provided by the Ministry of Higher Education) to stamp according to the usages in force, properly filled and signed by the competent authorities;

b) A certified true copy of the GCE Advanced Level in at least two subjets excluding “Religious knowledge”, or the Baccalaureat, or equivalent qualifications recognised by the Minister of Higher Education, excluding “Capacité en Droit” ;

c) A certified legible true copy of the candidate’s birth certificate not more than 3 months old on the date of submission of the application ;

d) A large self-addressed envelope, stamped at the rate in force;

e) A receipt of full payment of the examination fees carrying the field, the speciality, the name as well as the signature of the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education to whom the fees were paid ;

f) One or more HND result Transcripts.

g) Defence mark, signed by the competent authorities;

h) A receipt of application for equivalence (for foreign diplomas, GCE A/L or BACC).

3. Registration fees

For the 2010 session, registration fees have been fixed as follows according to the various categories :

Category A

A sum of thirty thousand francs (30 000) FCFA for the following authorised Specialties :

· Accountancy

· Banking and Finance

· Education (Didactics, Educational Planning and Curriculum Development);

· Insurance

· Management

· Marketing

· Secretarial Studies, Public Services and Administration (Executive Secretarial Studies)

Category B

A sum of thirty five thousand francs (35 000) FCFA for the following authorised Specialties :

· Computer Engineering (Hardware Maintenance, Software Engineering and Computing)

· Journalism (Print Journalism)

Category C

A sum of forty thousand francs (40 000) FCFA for the following authorised Specialties :

· Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Telecommunication, Information and Communication Technology) Electrical Power System

· Home Economics ( Bakery and Food Processing, Fashion Design, Clothing and Textiles)

· Mechanical Engineering (Mechanical Fabrication)

Category D

A sum of forty five thousand francs (45 000) FCFA for the following authorised Specialties and awaiting the production by the concerned establishments of a technical document (Terms of reference furnished by the Ministry of Higher Education) :

· Civil and Structural Engineering (Engineering Design)

· Medical Laboratory Technology

· Nursing

· Tourism and Hotel Management (Food Management and Catering, Travel Agency, Hospitality Management).

· Urban Planning and Surveying

· Water Resources and System

The registration fees of any other speciality will be fixed in due course.

For internal candidates, the registration fees will be deposited at the Yaounde General Treasury by the heads of the establishments on account n°450400TGY62 accompanied by an authorization to deposit signed by the competent Services of the Ministry of Higher Education, after verification of the lists and corresponding documents.

For external candidates, the registration fees will be paid in the Ministry of Higher Education, Sub Department of Teaching Programmes and Exams, 13th Floor.

The registration fees mentioned above are not refundable.

4. Other registration modalities

Only the establishments that had previous authorisation to open or as from 2008 could present candidates in the current session of the Higher National Diploma, in the fields, specialties or options concerned.

The latter shall deposit all application files of their candidates in the Ministry of Higher Education, Department of Higher Education Development, Sub-Department of Academic Programmes and Examinations, Service in charge of Examinations, 13th floor, latest Friday 26 february 2010. The recapitulative list of candidates presented (according to the model furnished by the Ministry) as well as the computerised aids that are needed have to be given (Excel 2007).

Furthermore, the documents of the files, notably second year transcripts, internship attestations, the marks awarded for internship reports, shall be deposited by the Heads of Schools concerned in the Ministry of Higher Education, Department of Higher Education Development, Sub-Department of Academic Programmes and Examinations, Service in charge of examinations, latest Friday 28 may 2010. After this date, candidates’ application files will not be accepted.

External candidates shall submit their application files in the Ministry of Higher Education, Department of Higher Education Development, Sub-Department of Academic Programmes and Examinations, Service in charge of Examinations, 13th floor, latest Friday 26 february 2010.

The penalty related to late deposit of application files for registration is as follows:

· A sum of seven thousand (7 000) FCFA per file, for files deposited between Monday 1st March and Wednesday 31 March 2010.

No files will be received after Wednesday 31 March 2010.

Holders of foreign diplomas or certificates should authenticate copies of these diplomas or certificates in the Embassies or Consulates of the countries where they obtained them.

III – EXEMPTION

In accordance with the regulation in force, unsuccessful candidates, who have obtained mark(s) equal to/or above 10/20 in one or many papers for the 2009 session, shall automatically keep the advantage of the above marks for the 2010 session exclusively. This privilege is applicable in one examination session only.

However, candidates who desire to waive their right to this privilege may formally apply for the cancellation of this exemption(s). In that case, they re-sit for the paper (s) concerned ; but such candidates shall in no circumstances require the Minister of Higher Education to reconsider the mark(s) already forfeited.

All the petitions shall be deposited in the Ministry of Higher Education not later than Monday 1 March 2010. After this date, no petition will be accepted.

The final exemption lists will be available and posted in the Ministry of Higher Education, 13 th floor, on Monday 15 March 2010.

IV. PUBLICATION OF THE LISTS OF CANDIDATES

After the study of the application files, the National Committee for the Organisation of HND Examinations shall publish the final list of the candidates authorised to sit for the examinations, as from Tuesday 18 May 2010. Candidates registered in non authorised Institutions and/or specialties will not be admitted to compete.

Any false information given by a candidate will automatically disqualify the latter and expose him/her to legal sanctions in accordance with the regulations in force.

Interested persons should feel free to contact the Director of Higher Education Development, Chairperson of the National Committee for the Organisation of Higher National Diploma Examinations, at the 13th floor of the Ministry of Higher Education.

The present press release shall be registered and published wherever necessary.


Jacques FAME NDONGO,


Minister of Higher Education