The University of Sierra Leone insisted that “The levying amount of an application fee is a worldwide university practice and insists that the fee charged is not for the form but is “an application fee.” This also follows concerns of academic fraud, exams malpractice which led President Koroma to launch what is known as operation show your credentials.
Executive Director -HEAL Sierra Leone, Joseph Sannoh said university forms should not be paid for, as he noted that application for admission is absolutely free in most university across the world. He further explained that students should only be paying for processing when they would have been accepted into the university.
Joseph Sannoh stated that the previous price for admission form was three hundred and fifty thousand Leones, as he pointed out that the one hundred thousand leones was for the entrance exam that was never materialized and that student’s money are yet to be refunded.
“From Genesis they have been receiving money, what have they been doing? the people have been receiving money without expansion, and what are they doing with all the money being collected? I don’t have respect for people that call themselves doctors and professors that do not plan and implement action.” Joseph Sannoh added.
He reiterated that the money authorities have been collected should have been utilized in rebranding the university by creating more spaces, providing internet facility and reviewing the curriculum, adding that the Anti Corruption Commission need to investigate the university authorities.
“Even the Amphitheatre was not their money as it was donated, auditors need to take action and investigate all the ongoing projects and questioned how much was received and spent.” He mentioned.
Executive Director-Youth and Children Advocacy Network (YACAN), Hassan Fouad Kanu appealed to the university authorities to make the university admission form affordable and accessible for the betterment of the country’s youth ad young people.
“The average man salary is Le 500,000- how you want the average man to educate his /her child, with such an increment” Fouad mentioned.
He maintained that the increment on the cost of admission form was an attempt to deny the poor man’s child access to quality education that could foster positive change to their lives, adding that they would engage all the concern authorities to see that the issue being addressed amicably.
