By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has warned lecturers of the Eastern Polytechnic against money or sex for grades at a meeting held at the institution’s canteen on Combema Road, Kenema.
“We will not encourage rotten and bad people in the system but to sieve them from the system,” says John Juana, Registrar of the Eastern Polytechnic.
Juana said engagement with the ACC was important and timely especially when the Eastern Polytechnic is on the verge of transforming into a university. The new status, he went on, will demand a lot of expectations in terms of performance in service delivery.
The registrar encouraged the ACC to engage both students and lecturers on the laws bordering on examination malpractices. He maintained that proper education with both parties will put a stop to not only money for grades but that of sex also. He noted the significance of sanitising the institution’s administration which he believed will further assist in rebranding its image.
He said they have senior lecturers with reputable records and urged all of them not to dent their image. He said the institution has put in place stringent measures to investigate matters relating to sex or money for grades. He observed that since the fight against corruption is to instil integrity, the Polytechnic will strive to do away with practices that will soil its standing.
The registrar affirmed that the ACC’s engagement to mitigate corruption in the institution will help them to manage the human resource system properly. He said a discontinuation of bad practices will further equip future graduates with the necessary skills and tools needed to diligently serve the nation. He noted that if students feel comfortable with the said corrupt practices, they will likely exhibit same in their offices after graduation.
Juana also commended the ACC for doing what is expected of them and further advised lecturers to maintain their integrity and limit their relationships with students. He said such relationships, at a certain stage will influence issues of corruption such as demanding of money and other things from students.
The Public Education Officer ACC Kenema, Sulaiman Bockarie Bandajuma Sowa said, the ACC has several approaches to fight corruption including the use of public education and prevention. He said that there is academic corruption and that the ACC is using preventive measures that that will save them the burden of prosecuting matters in court.
Sowa, however, stated that the ACC will use the legal means to prosecute anybody that falls short of corruption be it sex or money for grades. He promised that the ACC will continue their monitoring and engagement of staff of the institution. He was quick to point it was not an intimidation but rather a prudent step in preventing corruption practices from taking place.
“ACC is not here to intimidate people but to guide them on how to prevent corruption and corrupt practices in their institutions,’’ he said.
The Principal of the Eastern Polytechnic, Professor Mohamed Konneh appreciated the ACC for conducting an educative engagement with staff of the college. He promised that the administration will continue to work with the ACC in accordance with the law. He called for more public education and encouraged the staff to make good use of the session given them.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (06/09/21)
