By Hassan I. Conteh

Students of University of Sierra Leone (USL) are graduating mid of April this year amidst growing frustrations.

A number of students have told this medium that the University authorities issued out a notice of their congregation just barely two weeks before the date for the graduation.

“I have yet to fully pay my fees; and the graduation fee is being increased more than the original sum we were told. I am finding ways to finish payment within the two week tightest schedule,” a female student at Fourah Bay College (FBC) told us on Monday 3 April 2023 after USL’s notice.

Fourah Bay College (FBC); Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences ( COMAHS) made  up the  University of Sierra Leone.

The three constituent colleges are holding their respective congregation ceremonies between Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 April 2023 at an amphitheater at Fourah Bay College.

FBC students will have their graduation first on Wednesday 12 second by IPAM and later COMAHS.

In the face of growing hardship and unstoppable inflation in Sierra Leone, students are caught with their pants down as the notice, by university authorities which is requesting them to pay a sum of Le 2 million (USD $ 100) graduation fee, met them unexpectedly.

“Congregation fees 2021/2022 academic year: Undergraduate Le 2,000.00 (2m); Post graduates Le 2,500.00; Diploma Le 1,000.00.” a notice by University of Sierra Leone indicates as issued on Wednesday 22nd March, 2023.

The notice continues explaining in details the items for which each student’s money covers.

“Please note that this cost include: 1) personalized degree certificates, 2) Regalia Rental – except for PhD candidates 3) College Year Book 4 ) Administrative costs …” the notice reads in part.

As students are shocked by the news, most of them could definitely not graduate this April owing to some outstanding financial obligations.

The fact that the university notice came late and students are believed not to be given “ample time” to better prepare for their graduation, the number of grandaunts is surely going to decrease this year as compared to the previous years.

“During my days at IPAM six years ago, we had about four months to prepare before graduation day, we were not just shot like that” Ibrahim Bangura, a past student at IPAM recalled.

This year’s graduation for students of the University of Sierra Leone comes at a very challenging time as the local currency, the leone, rapidly depreciates against the US dollar.

USD $ 100 is now sold slightly well above Le 2,000,000 ( two million;old leones).

And hyper-inflation on foodstuffs and items is causing trouble on households and youth in Sierra Leone.

As names of confirmed students for Wednesday’s graduation are still underway, about a thousand is expected to graduate from the three colleges, adding up to thousands unemployed graduates in the country.

Over this frustration and pressure on USL late notice, Alimamy Conteh is a student at Fourah Bay College. He explains just how things have become so expensive to buy as he was walking up and down to get what he needed for the graduation.

“The cost of a coat is now Le 2million (USD$ 100) and prices on other kits are exorbitant too in the market these days” he explained.

The merriment of grandaunts might be short-lived as pressure on them to foot the bill weighs them down.

The University authorities could not be reached for comments but a deadline for students’ payment earlier fixed on Thursday April 6 was extended on the following day April 7, 2023.

The USL is yet to adjust itself to government’s academic fixed calendar initiated by Professor Alpha Wurie, current Minister of Technical and Higher Education.

2017, for instance, FBC Congregation ceremony was held on Saturday April 22, but with students being notified by the authorities about four months before their graduation.

Unlike in other succeeding years, students and authorities were at loggerheads over a number of unresolved issues.

A recent past graduation at IPAM in 2021 saw a female student, Fatmata Binta Bah, being manhandled by a ruthless police officer who was later found guilty by a police board of investigation.

The students of IPAM including Binta Bah were said to be protesting against college authorities for late submission of names of students awaiting graduation.

Victims of IPAM students claimed then that there were a number of “missing grades” and glaring discrepancies in students’ graduation lists. The authorities reacted saying some students had failed to complete their study assessments while others had outstanding monies to pay to the university.

Meanwhile, the University of Sierra Leone has wrapped up a number of development initiatives to rebrand the three colleges as they sadly and slowly trail behind other universities in Africa.