FREETOWN – The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Sierra Leone, has rusticated six students and terminated the contracts of six lecturers following an investigation into widespread examination malpractice, the institution announced on Wednesday.
The disciplinary action stems from a probe into the Pre-Admission Examination for the Diploma in Nursing programme, which was cancelled on March 10, 2026, after allegations of irregularities surfaced. The examination had involved more than 800 candidates.
A seven-member Investigation Committee, comprising officials from the College’s examinations office and academic staff, was established to examine the allegations. The panel was tasked with determining the nature and extent of the infractions and recommending measures to protect the integrity of future admission processes.
The committee found that the irregularities posed a serious threat to the credibility of the admission process, compromised academic standards, and undermined public confidence in the institution’s commitment to fairness and transparency, according to a statement from Bai Kandeh Turay, Communications Officer at COMAHS/USL.
Of the 11 lecturers investigated, five were exonerated due to insufficient evidence. However, six were found to have violated the University of Sierra Leone’s Examination Regulations and Staff Code of Ethics. The committee recommended that their contracts not be renewed upon expiration, a decision the university accepted.
Six students were also found culpable of direct involvement in the malpractice and have been rusticated in line with the university’s disciplinary procedures.
“The integrity of our assessment processes, qualifications, and certificates remains fundamental to our mission of producing competent healthcare professionals,” the statement said, reaffirming the college’s zero-tolerance policy towards academic misconduct.
The University of Sierra Leone said it would continue to strengthen measures aimed at preventing examination malpractice across all its constituent campuses and remain resolute in upholding the highest standards of academic excellence, fairness, and accountability.
