By Mabinty M. Kamara
The recommendations emanating from the recent report by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on the status of the Malaysian owned private university – Limkokwing – has left its students optimistic about their future.
Over 1000 students have been stuck at home for months after the school was effectively shut down following disagreement between the management and the government over payment.
Limkokwing, named after its founder, Dr. Sri Paduka Limkokwing, was brought into the country during the former All Peoples Congress Party administration in 2014, on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University and the government of Sierra Leone. The agreement entailed that the government would award 1,200 scholarships to Sierra Leoneans in each academic year.
The current administration of President Julius Maada Bio, termed that agreement as fraudulent and said it went against the interest of the country.
The government’s refusal to honor the financial terms of the agreement led to the school sending away the government sponsored students. It provoked recurrent protests by the affected students.
There have been at least two demonstrations over the issues, one of which led to violence and arrests.
The ACC’s investigation was meant to look at the agreement establishing the university and profer recommendations into fixing the stalemate. The outcome of the investigation which was released last week, laid the blame mostly on the then government, confirming the current government’s earlier position that the agreement was unfavorable to the country.
In its recommendations, the anti-graft agency said the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, alongside the Ministry of Finance, should engage the Limkokwing management for a thorough review of the “Memorandum of Agreement”, especially with regards to the fees structure. The ACC said any new agreement should be put before parliament for ratification, in line with provisions of the country’s constitution.
“Additionally, the government, through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, is advised to go by the agreement signed (though with serious improprieties) – as an Executive Clearance had already been sought in that regard and fresh steps taken; but must review same as aforesaid,” it reads.
Mohamed Lamin Fulla, a third year student at Limkokwing, told Politico that he was hopeful that the government would adopt the recommendations of the report, paving the way for them to resume classes.
“We are hopeful because they first of all made recommendations to the Ministries of Finance and Education to look at the document thoroughly to do a review of the Memorandum of Understanding. For us as students, that calls for hope, because review is not a problem. We as students do not have problem with that, if it’s in the interest of the nation. We just want to remind people that we are Sierra Leoneans and we went through the legal means of acquiring the scholarships. And also government is continuity, so we look forward to the stakeholders to address our concerns,” he said.
Sulaiman Tanu Bah, a third year student, said that the move by the ACC to investigate and proffer recommendations on the issue was a positive step in the right direction.
“As students, we were not part of the agreement signed between the former government and the university. It was just an offer that there is an opportunity for young people to apply for scholarship, which we grabbed. All other agreements we never knew. It is only later that the lapses came to our knowledge,” he said, adding: “Sitting at home for close to one year is not easy especially when most of the courses offered are practical. So being away from the classroom for long tells negatively on our productivity as students. We trust the government and so we are hopeful that something will happen soon.”
Abdul Fonti Kabia, Communications Strategist attached to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, told Politico that the Ministry was waiting for the outcome of a planned stakeholder’s engagement on the issue to map the way forward.
“The ACC has officially communicated the findings and outcome of the investigations to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and the Permanent Secretary has confirmed to me that in the coming days there will be a meeting between and among the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Finance Ministry, Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and the Limkokwing University. It is that Stakeholder’s meeting that will determine the next step,” he said.
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