UNIMTECH Graduates Accuse University of Extortion Over Withheld Certificates and NLe500 Fee
The 2023 graduates of a UNIMTECH university in Sierra Leone are facing frustration as the institution withholds their certificates and imposes an unexpected fee of NLe500 (Le500,000), delaying their ability to seek jobs and further education.
The university administration informed the graduates that their official certificates would not be issued until six months after graduation due to a decision by the university senate.
The fee is described as a penalty for graduates who left the ceremony early, a measure aimed at preventing future occurrences.
Dr. Alhaji B. Kamara, the university’s Registrar, explained that the certificates would be available by October 2024, but only after the fee is paid.
Graduates argue that overcrowded and hazardous conditions during the ceremony led to their early departure and view the fee as an unjust financial burden.
They are urging the university to reconsider the decision, as the withheld certificates are crucial for their professional and academic pursuits. The situation has left them in a state of uncertainty, awaiting a resolution.
This is too bad as the university is delaying the success of the graduate and you should not punish a person twice for the same crime
How can you withhold a certificate for six months, and after which you demand a huge amount to pay?
That’s toal wickedness.
We ask for government intervention.
First and foremost, I want to condemned their actions of working out while the convocation ceremony was still in progress, however it’s in human to impose a law that was not in existence.
I also believe that particular convocation ceremony was the longest since universities stopped issuing certificate on graduation day. Also after three hours of sitting, administration still expect students to be comfortable.
What a wicked country, after six months of deprivation from their statement of result and transcript, the authority still expect them to paid nle500.🤔🤔