About one year six months ago when some 23 students at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) were rusticated for examinations malpractice and two lecturers sacked, the Dean of the Campus, Dr Claudius Bart-Williams has announced that one student has been expelled, two students found guilty and 20 others to serve two years suspension each.
The 23 students were offering the same subject but in different departments.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday 11th June at the IPAM George Street campus in Freetown, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Professor Aiah Gbakima said that the students were caught and the matter was taken to the senate and it was approved by court.
He disclosed that the students appealed through the appeal committees against the decision and at the end of the day justice was delivered.
The Principal maintained that, the university summoned an emergency court meeting where the matter was taken – noting that once the court has approved it there is no turning back.
What the students have done the Vice Chancellor said will be in their transcripts.
Professor Gbakima said that, students must remember that they are in the university to learn and perform well and whatever they do will reflect on their records.
He added that when students enter – they must live by the rules and regulations of that university and once they apply – they must be disciplined because the university does not compromise on that.
The Dean of the IPAM campus and Principal Claudius Bart Williams said that, “the decision on this matter was taken by Lawyers who represented the USL, adding that the quality of the evidence was looked into by the Lawyers”.
He added that, when the incident occurred we at IPAM passed the report to the University of Sierra Leone who make the decisions, adding that he did not have the power to put any student out of IPAM.
Since the incident occurred he said it took so much time of their work and that it also had an effect on the staff.
He highlighted some of the innovative programs IPAM gives to students.
The University Registrar Edward Njandi said that the university is fully structured; it has committee systems and everything works through this system.
He stated that on disciplinary matters it is passed on to the registrar who will then pass it on to the USL and then to the disciplinary committee which in turn will make recommendations to the court.
Mr. Njandi pointed out that, the students appealed against this through the appeals committee and justice was done.
Head of Admission and Academic Programs at IPAM, Mr. Sorie Turay who chaired the program said that, the USL comprises of three: IPAM, College of Medicine and Allied Health Science (COMAHS) and Fourah Bay College (FBC) and is housed at IPAM.
Every decision taken is forwarded to the University of Sierra Leone.
By Abibatu Kamara
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