By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Management of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) on Thursday 22nd April, 2021, during a Press Conference held at the college Conference Hall on Tower Hill in Freetown, made clear the college’s position relating to the riotous conduct of students on campus on Monday 12th April, 2021.
In his statement, Deputy Vice Chancellor of IPAM, Prof. Samuel Edmond Nonie, noted that the Management of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) wishes to inform its students and the general public that it totally and strongly condemns the riotous conduct put up by some students on campus which occurred on the 12th April 2021.
He added that in respect of that unacceptable behaviour, the Administration has supported the timely investigation of the incident as a way to fight against impunity and lawlessness.
Prof. Samuel Edmond Nonie maintained that the Registry was informed that a class or group of students, who believed that they were to graduate this year ,on the 12th April 2021 at IPAM Tower Hill Campus in Freetown violently disrupted the process of distributing graduation regalia and invitation cards to students who had been cleared or deemed eligible to take part in the Congregation of the University of Sierra Leone scheduled for Wednesday 14th April 2021 and that those students violently interrupted the process by pelting stones across the entire campus destroying college properties.
He furthered that the information received from the Registry stated that the riotous students were among the students who had not been cleared for graduation because of outstanding academic matters, i.e., incomplete grades (references), exit verification queries and financial arrears to the college.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor pointed out that it is important to note that the grades for these graduating students were published in November 2020 for them to review and revert with issues, if any and that many of the students treated that process with levity. Therefore most of them could not complete the verification process.
“Furthermore, more than half of the graduating students are unregistered. To register, a student is required to settle all financial obligations. Unfortunately, some students are still in fees arrears which have delayed their registration. Thus the Examination office has a huge number of students whose results can’t be published until they complete the registration process,” he revealed.
He added that the Administration held discussions with the Students’ Union Government in respect of the case put forward by some of the affected students who claimed of not having outstanding issues, saying assurance was given to the students that all concerns were being looked into with a view to expeditiously address the ‘genuine’ cases.
He said, however, instead of allowing the Administration and their leaders to conclude the process some of the affected students opted to violently disrupt the operations of the College, adding that the Police were called upon to restore order, which was achieved after over an hour as the riotous students were putting up stout resistance.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor assured all that the Administration remains committed to publishing the results of all students who had been cleared intimating that all genuine cases were taken into consideration and their names were included in the Programme.
“For those who very recently took the reference exams or have other outstanding requirement issues, their results would be published as soon as their grades are computed or their issues resolved; they would have access to Statements of Result and Attestations to indicate that they have completed their courses. They would also be included in the Programme for the next Graduation of the University,” Prof. Samuel Edmond Nonie concluded.
The Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Dr. Ezekiel Duramany Lakkoh, disclosed that IPAM is a very credible and highly regulated institution, adding that as an institution they strongly condemn the riotous conduct of some students on campus which took place on Monday 12th April 2021 of which he said most of these students who had not been cleared for graduation because of outstanding academic matters, i.e., incomplete grades reference(s), exit verification queries, and financial arrears to the College are the ones who decided to stage the said riot.
Dr. Ezekiel Duramany Lakkoh said that as a college they had evidences of students who had incomplete grades reference(s), exit verification queries, and financial arrears to the College but they wanted to graduate which is totally against the college procedures.
He said after the college has looked at all the requirements for these final year students to gradate only 976 were qualified to graduate while the others had issues with the college.
Deputy Registrar of IPAM, Brima Bah also noted that as a college they have requirements which qualifies final students to graduate one of which he said they should be fully paid students, they must not have references, must be disciplined and they must complete the exit verification exercises.
Brima Bah revealed that after all these requirements are looked into by the college some students were not qualified for graduation, adding that even during the eve of the graduation they were there to ensure that all genuine concerns were addressed and those cleared had their names added to the list of graduates.
