Friday, October 23, 2009

Of Spineless Sex Poachers And Grade Traffickers!

Spyglass: Of Spineless Sex Poachers And Grade Traffickers!
Friday, October 23, 2009

By Azore Opio

I have been meaning to put my thoughts on this subject down for some time and the pictures of poached game in The Post No. 01094 of Monday, October 19 showing the senseless game killing that is going on really disturbed some people - especially animal lovers like us who relish 'bush meat'. In order to get my exact thoughts in order, therefore, I started off by looking up the meaning of the word "poach".

The dictionary defines "poaching" as "to intrude on another's preserves in order to pursue or kill game, or upon another's fishing to catch fish..." Figuratively, poaching refers to encroaching upon another's rights, profits, area of influence, etc... to seek an unfair advantage. There are also colloquial connotations of poaching: "to go after other women, while currently in a relationship"; that is hunting out of season; or to "try and seduce the partner of a friend or colleague in an awkward embarrassing sex pest style"; and the "immoral actions of an adult male who dates and buys things for teenage girls to seduce them into sex". This is where the trouble is.

But first, there seems to be two types of poaching mindsets; those who don't give a damn and those who think they are entitled to helping themselves to the plant, the game, the fish or the woman. The former, if for anything, should never exist if the person really cares about the target. Then, there are three types of poachers in this world; meat poachers, ivory poachers and sex poachers.

While meat poachers target animals they can sell the meat of, ivory poachers are well organised professionals who kill elephants and rhinos to sell ivory to foreign markets. Our sex poachers, sex pests if you like, lay their snares in classrooms and university corridors. And that is where the trouble is. They don't buy gewgaws to seduce teenage girls into sex, but they use marks and grades tinted with threats to coerce their students into sex. Now, this is really bad. The trick is simple enough for a kindergarten kid to master at first attempt.

Let me tell you how far sex pests and students go in their efforts to "adjust" marks through seduction, what is aptly referred to as sexually transmitted marks. While some lecturers accept money to give pass grades, others prefer to hook female students; this is really where the trouble is!

Here is how it works - a lecturer starts off by identifying a pretty student. If you are ugly, you are sure you won't walk into the trap. Often the pretty student is also brilliant. After a few words of encouragement, the lecher switches moods into a sinister mentor who will willingly fail the student if she tries to play hard ball. The big trouble is coercion, threats and intimidation are the tools of this lecherous trade.

A female student from the Department of Political Science in the "Place to Be", confided in Spyglass that she had to trade her sex for a "B+" grade. Previously, she had flunked when she refused to succumb to the advances of the amorous pedagogue. The grief-stricken student said she had to massage the lecturer's "head of state" because she wanted to graduate; that is just all. A secluded hotel room settled the matter. There are other hotels whose names I am sure you would not want me to name in the interest of public decency, where lecturers conveniently transmit marks sexually after wining and dining with their female quarries.

For a plate of food, a few drinks and a fling in a hotel attic, one can pick good grades without stress. While some students barter their sex with marks, others prefer to give cash. Sometimes, just being a class delegate and a favourite of a lecturer can earn one very high points at UB. This works for male students who have nothing better to offer like their female counter-parts. In this case, one might not even have to sit for tests.

Another student sadly recalls that she had to cough up FCFA 20,000 for the sake of her womanhood to manage a pass grade in French 102, but still failed at the end of the year. She swore never to buy high grades nor "sleep" for it. Then there is this Economics student.

She likes learning. Her problem is passing with good grades. And with a mere FCFA 25,000, she can rake in a B+. Here is how it goes - FCFA 25,000, full names, course title and matriculation number sealed in an envelope and passed through a courier male student who passes it on to the lecturer. She is not alone in the business of buying good grades. Sometimes there are two or three others. That means the lecturer picks a cool FCFA 100,000 or so, and the students walk away with equally cool B grades, no matter what they write on their scripts.

An Economics lecturer is politely quoted as having once said; "I am not against the idea of students giving money to obtain high grades. Those who do so are the eager ones who want to pass at all cost. Even the hard working ones spend time and energy before obtaining good grades but the main objective here is to succeed, no matter the means used." This is where the trouble is.

A lot others, who cannot rent out their genitalia pay cash. "It all depends on one's physical appearance, persuasive powers and the personal relationship with the supervisor," says a male student, "the girls pay less than the boys. All those who give something are promised a B+ because the supervisor fears the difficult task of defending an "A" grade if he happens to be called upon to explain.

While we can castigate lecherous teachers and knavish students, we cannot help but drag in crooked parents who are more than willing to encourage their children to buy grades or trade sex for good marks. One student said her mother once gave her FCFA 70.000 to pay for two of her re-sit courses. Hm!

Another student confided that his parents paid a huge sum of money so that his elder brother's Grade Point Average (GPA) could be increased. This transaction apparently took place at the Records Office. I am telling you all this so that you can see that behind some degrees are sleazy deals. It goes on and on.

Sexual Transmitted Marks (STM)

Disgusting, embarrassing and unfit to be educators. Any educator out there who forces students to have sex with them in order for these students to pass are violating the rights of the student. The issue here is not that of consensual sex between two adults. There is no place for Sexual Transmitted Marks (STM) period. I lack the right words to condemn this behavior. Shame on you Prof, Dr, Mr, Chief whatever you call your self who treat women as sex objects. You are too timid and lack the self confidence to court women as such have resorted to draconian measures. In some societies all of you will be behind bars and would be called sex offenders. When is this nonsense going to stop?
This does end at the level of the students. What about those who use sex to get jobs? Hey are you that desperate? Can't you say too hell with that job of promotion? Some will say, I do not know what I am talking about. Please give me a break. I know. Where has human dignity gone to? No wonder our politicians continue "raping" the country with impunity and no body holds them accountable. We are all waiting for our own turn to come so that we can grab our share. Keep on waiting by the time you get there nothing will be left for you.
Is the money option better? Woe on you who use money to buy grades and shame on you teachers who sell grades. What type of citizens are you training? No wonder bribery and corruption is rampant in Cameroon. I bribe to get the job. When I get the job it is pay back time. This vicious cycle keeps going on and on. It must be broken! It may start with you. Are you ready. Please let us stop giving all those unfounded excuses we give to justify our actions.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

"Chop a Chop" has ruined our country

"Chop a Chop" has ruined our country. We are in the survival mode because of extremely high unemployment and little or nothing for hard working Cameroonians to look up to. I do not want to list all our problems, for we are all aware of them.
How did we dig such a deep hole? Why have we not been able to come out of it? Who is to blame for our present predicament? Some say, La Republic. Others say our leaders. Some point to colonization. Few point to our "Chop a Chop culture" If there is personal benefit to me, the law can be broken to further my course. "Everybody" is doing and so it is OK. If I do not "chop" my own share of the National cake it is going to be taken by others. That is why during elections votes sell for as little as a bottle of beer, a few grains of rice and some palm oil.
Why do we always look for a quick fix to patch our problems? No wonder we are were we are.Who is circulating this letter and what do they intend to achieve? It is sad that most Cameroonians are ready to sell a piece of the fatherland to achieve their own selfish gain. Every Tom,and Dick, Jack and Jill, rush to the US, cook up all sorts of lies in the name of getting papers. They do not care about their actions on the rest of the country. Shame on all who point fingers at others, but are not better then those they are castigating.
It is common knowledge that most Cameroonians who declare political asylum do so because of economic reasons. Getting political asylum is a temporal fix. My concern is that most of the asylum seekers are influenced by the "Chop a Chop culture". As such we will continue to lament in our present predicament. There is need for a fundamental change in our attitude towards our laws. We should not use "short cuts" to solve our problems.

Friday, October 2, 2009

We need proper representation

I hope the parliamentarians will start debating on bills that will touch and improve the lives of the people. After all the people voted them to represent them and make sure their own share of the "national cake" gets to them.
We may have to keep our hopes alive that our plight will finally wake our "big men" out of their present slumber. May be we have not cried loud enough, maybe we have to cry the more to beckon them to our suffering. What explanation can they give to the high unemployment in the country? I am not advocating for that the government create all the jobs. The government should get out of the way of the private sector. They should encourage private interments by providing far tax laws.
Why do we have to bother to preach to the choir? These are all well educated individuals, who have all been to Europe and seen how things work. What is keeping them from doing the right thing?
Keep the people poor so that you can manipulate and control them. During elections, buy their votes with a few grains of rice, a bottle of beer, and some cash, it is Cho a Chop time and "you scratch my back, I scratch your own." Politics of "beletics' will not create jobs, nor will it provide the necessary environment for industries and the private sector to thrive. Politics of "beletics" means you eat today and suffer for the rest of the days. Is there suffering in Cameroon? Did we not eat during the last elections? Did we not vote based on "tribal" affiliations? He or she is from our village and his going to represent us. How long do we have to continual living in denial? Do not be deceived they are not representing you. They are there for personal benefit. Do not cast stones on me yet. I know you will say when fire falls on you have to get rid of it before taking care of others. But they have been taking care of themselves since I was a kid. When will they take care of us?
Each time there new ministers are appointed, when lament that one of our own has not been appointed. Who is one of our own? What will one of own do? What has become of our roads and basic projects that have been financed to benefit the people? Let me stop, I am running out of ink.
Have a great weekend and pray for our leaders and our country. Elections are coming up, ask your leaders the right questions and do not vote because he or she is from your village.