By Alpha Daramy Sesay
The Anti
Corruption Commission has released a damning report on the University
of Sierra Leone. The 64-page report questions the capacity at the
constituent colleges of the university and recommends the institution
of a matriculation board for the conduct of a matriculation entrance
examination for all courses run by the university.
The ACC
Commissioner, Joseph F. Kamara said the poor quality of education was
the main topic for discussion across the country, adding that the
report was an attempt to provide solutions to the numerous problems
the university faced.
He rebuked the
university for producing graduates who “cannot express themselves
in common interviews” suggesting that they had evidence of people
falsifying degrees which they never achieved.
The ACC boss
accused the University of not “refunding students’ grants-in-aid,
fees paid by unregistered students up till final year and students
paying for services like ITC and medical care but which they never
get access to.” He described as “shameful” the difference in
accommodation fees by first and final year students, registration
anomalies the falsification of results and the lack of a strategic
plan.
Responding to the
findings and recommendations by the ACC, Vice Chancellor of the
University of Sierra Leone, Professor Jonas Redwood-Sawyyer,
acknowledged some of the problems besetting the university and
promised that they would try to work with the authorities concerned
to stamp out some of the concerns.
He revealed that
they would soon introduce matriculation examinations for all students
entering all constituents colleges of the University.
He added that
“within the next three months, the University will be in better
position to handle some of them” and promised that foundation
courses would not only be taught in the first year but also through
third year so as to improve on students’ ability of master speech
writing and hone in their speaking skills.
According to the
ACC Director of Systems and Process Review, Morris Williams, such
matriculation examinations should be supervised by an external
examiner.
© Politico
11 October 2012
