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There have been widespread criticism and condemnation since the administration of the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology in the Northern City of Makeni announced it has requested the service of officials at the Fourth Infantry Brigade in Makeni to invigilate its forthcoming examinations.
The information that military officers will be invigilating the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology forthcoming examinations went viral a few days ago.
The examinations will commence on April 3rd and end on the 19th of April 2024. The University in a notice has requested fifty (50) military officers to invigilated the entire process.
In fact, a Facebook post from Edwin Momoh, the Deputy Vice Chancellor informed that the officers have had an orientation workshop with the University. The purpose of the orientation, according to the Facebook post, was for the University administration to provide direction to the military officers on how to go about invigilating the examinations.
This move by the University has been criticized in and outside Makeni.
Some Sierra Leoneans took to social media to question the move which they termed as unlawful more so when the army’s role is clearly defined in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. Many are also asking whether there is a lack of trust between the the University administrators and it academic staff.
According to Billy Kamara, a Human rights lawyer in Makeni, Examinations are an integral part of a student’s academic evaluation, thereby assessing the student’s knowledge, understanding, and skills.
However, Kamara argued that the students have the right to take exams in a conducive, accommodating, and friendly atmosphere.
“It’s not hidden that Examinations must be conducted in a conducive, accommodating, and
friendly atmosphere. When this is done, there’s the likelihood of higher student academic performance,” Billy Kamara noted.
Research, the Human Rights Lawyer stated has shown students who take exams in a conducive, accommodating, and friendly atmosphere are more engaged, motivated, focused, and relaxed and have a higher overall academic performance as opposed to those taking exams in a tense, unaccommodating, unfriendly and fearful atmosphere.
For Billy Kamara and many others, the idea of employing the military to investigate the exams will frighten many students and there’s no conducive atmosphere.
The 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone makes the role and functions of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces very clear.
And many are saying it is not the business of the military to inviligate examinations. There have been calls from the public for the University to reverse its decision.
“I employ the EBKUST administrators, to revisit their stance and never create a novelty in the academic history of our great nation,” the Lawyer wrote.
Though the issue is currently the topic among members of the public, the university has not made a public statement about whether it will reverse or go ahead with the decision.
Why using soldiers to intimidate the students but never allow the police to arrest and investigate Honorable Paran and wife after corruption practice
Thumps up to our very own lawyer Billy M. Kamara, the no nonsense lawyer!
There’s nothing fearful about soldiers invigilating exams! After all they won’t be doing that with guns in their hands. A student who is prepared for the exams doesn’t want to know who the envigilator is. Poor prepared students can still panic over toy invigilators! What one knows he knows and what you know can hardly kills you! If the military can stop examinations malpractice let them be used! I come in peace!
There is nothing wrong for soldiers to invigilate exams. I believe,they will be using civil attire to invigilate the exams. Is part of their constitutional role in contributing to national development.
Why are they crying when dry bones are mentioned. Soldiers are not devils or angels either, so let them go into the exams room and do their best.
This is total nonsense. Are the staff of the academic office of EBKUST don’t trust each other again? Do the military officers of that unit do not know their assigned roles as stated in the Sierra Leone constitution? Is the university now viewed their students as external aggressors that need the involvement of the military?
One role of the military in the Constitution is to “protect the peoples achievements” education is the greatest achievement of the people. If you want to kill any nation just trifle with its education. Asian nations who were far behind African nations in the 50s, 60s and early 70s are now a thousand miles ahead due to education. It does not matter who’s the invigilator as long as they are not noisy and smelly they should have no effect on a prepared student. Also according to the notice, the soldiers have received orientation on the process. Usually, across the civilised world soldiers are used when impeccable results are needed. The nature of military training makes them very discipline in every aspect of operation. I see nothing wrong with our gallant military officers who are also well educated to help in curbing examination malpractices
Is examination a war zone. I’m sure not.
Protect life and property. That’s your primary role. If na bike man dem sef, e for don better, because na dem b dae go with dem and bring them back. But soja man, comot dere.
It’s not credible act
There is no need for students to be afraid of exams, if only it is for the credibility of the exams, let them supervise the process. I’m a former student of the University, it was the first year of service of the vice Chancellor himself in office and so he introduced the CCTV Camera, at that time there was also lots of grumbling and panic in the University, but after the first exams, 32 students were caught on the process and 22 were expelled for a year, 7 were rusticated and 3 won in the court of appeal. And that set of students that were able to complete their studies are performing very well in their various offices. Today I am proud to stand anywhere and express myself in the world of academia.