As the report of the Tertiary Education Committee (TEC) investigations is yet to be published, the Academic Staff Association of Njala University have issued a release which indicates that they would not participate in any of the activities of the University, until the suspension of programmes is rescinded by the Committee.
The release asserts that the suspension was not mandated by the TEC; but a unilateral action by the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission, Professor Kossoh Thomas and the Executive Secretary Professor Fyle.
They however demanded that the Commission produce records that would show that they met and took the decision to debunk the allegation, noting that the Commission would not have approved the suspension of programmes hence the deliberate refusal to summon a Commission meeting.
The lecturers also said that “the Commission does not have a modus operandi to evaluate programmes as the TEC Act does not specify it”, they referred to suspension as erroneous and unfortunate.
The release added that the Ministry of Education’s statement gave the TEC some recommendations which were the basis of the suspension and these include the strength and experience of the academic staff executing programs; staff contact hours with students particularly for supervision of dissertations and duration of programs.
The lecturers called on the Ombudsman and the Anti corruption Commission to investigate the matter as what is happening is tantamount to academic corruption and criminality and that those responsible if found culpable should be indicted and brought to book.
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