By Politico Staff Writer
The Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) has imposed various punitive measures on a total of 31 students in a move the administration said was part of efforts to instill discipline in the school.
The results of 19 students were withheld after they were found wanting for involvement in examination malpractices, while 13 others were rusticated for riotous conduct during the Students’ Union elections in July. Nine other students had their results withheld for disrespecting the college administration when they attempted to sit to the examination while on suspension.
A spokesperson for the college explained that 14 of the affected students were from its Goderich campus, while five were from the Congo Cross campus.
MCCET is polytechnic college specializing in education and science and technology courses, with its administrative center located at the Goderich campuses, with two other campuses in Congo Cross and Brookfields, all in Freetown.
Elizabeth Sesay, Public Relations Officer of the college, said the decisions followed “thorough” investigations of the students involved. She added that some of the students confessed their offenses, during the investigation process.
The decision against the students followed a similar move against a lecturer who the college said was found guilty of involvement in examination malpractice.
Dr Adikali Kabba Sesay, who lectured in the PE Department, was dismissed for awarding “fictitious” grades to students.
The administration said Mr Sesay was first involved in a similar act in the 2009/2010 academic year examination when he was reportedly investigated by the police and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Dr Sesay declined to comment when contacted by Politico, noting that his lawyer was looking at the issue for appropriate action.
Ms Sesay, the spokeswoman, said the administration set up a Disciplinary Committee to investigate all the cases, and that the matter against the lecturer came following complaints from students that some of their colleagues who did not even take the examinations were awarded grades.
She said the committee relied on other evidences, including footages from CCTV cameras, to inform its decisions against the students penalized for riotous conduct. She added that they took statements from the college’s security guards who saw and identified some of the students who then named their accomplices.
Ms Sesay said all those rusticated were first year students, while those in final year had their results withheld for a year.
MMCET is the latest tertiary institution in Sierra Leone to take such stringent measures against indiscipline, particularly examination malpractice.
Earlier this year, similar punitive actions were taken by the constituent colleges of the University of Sierra Leone against scores of students for various offenses, including exams malpractice.
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