Mohamed Vandi in Kenema

Over thirty students who applied for the bachelor's of education (B.Ed) degree programme for 2007 academic year at the eastern polytechnic in Kenema have been demoted to do access class by the college administration.

This latest development came after the college administration discovered that students, who have spent almost a year in the B.Ed programme, did not meet the required criteria set by the college.

Speaking on the eastern radio ‘A.M. Live programme' on Wednesday, registrar of the college Adonis Kanneh said when the students applied on the start of the academic year in 2007, they were given provisional acceptance letters on the grounds that they would later make available their certificates to the college administration for record purposes which the students failed to do.

He added that the matter was taken to the institution's Academic Board who finally resolved that all students who could not meet the requirement criteria for the programme should be given the opportunity to do the access course. This means only those students who could successfully complete the course, are qualified to be enrolled into the degree programme.

Meanwhile, secretary general of the eastern polytechnic students union Mohamed Rogers said the union had promptly intervened, adding that it was due to their interference that the affected students were not sent away but rather given the opportunity to do access course.

But many people have described the action of the students as unfortunate, scandalous and criminal which could question the credibility of the institution and therefore recommended that all students found guilty of the act should be expelled from the college.