The oldest university college in Sub Saharan Africa, Sierra Leone’s Fourah Bay College, has for the second year running had to suspend its end-of-year examinations, amid a heavy presence of riot police on campus who have set up checkpoints.
A press release from the Registrar of the University of Sierra Leone, Sorie N. Dumbuya says the suspension is indefinite and is due to student disturbances on campus. But the college Exams Officer, Munda Lebbie told Politico he knew “nothing about it”.
A Police spokesman says they have taken over the campus to restore law and order and allow the college administration to handle matters.
On Friday students took over the college campus, set up barricades and changed the locks to the doors of offices and classrooms. Their protests follow the rustication and expulsion from college of 31 students on grounds of indiscipline. They occupied the hostels after the administration had told them to vacate for repairs. They also allegedly physically attacked the warden of students when he attempted to effect the eviction.
The FBC students’ union president, Seeman Alie Mans-Conteh says the action of the college is disproportionate to the wrong done by the students vowing to ensure its reversal. He said the hostels had been unoccupied for years without repair work while students students continued to suffer without a place to stay.
Last academic year, the college had to suspend end-of-year exams due to the shortage of stationery.
(c) Politico Online
