By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has officially banned the use of class representatives across all its three constituent colleges following reports of misconduct and abuse of power by some individuals occupying the role.
The announcement was made on Friday, October 24, 2025, by the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University, Professor Aiah Lebbie, during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the University Senate.
According to an official statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the University, the decision came after a series of complaints and credible reports of unethical behaviour involving several class representatives on different campuses.
“The policy directive stems from serious complaints and reports received by University management regarding misconduct by some class representatives across all campuses. The reported behaviours include, but are not limited to, extortion, corruption, intimidation and exploitation of students,” the statement read.
The University administration said the growing trend of misconduct had eroded confidence in the class representative system and was undermining the values the institution stands for. It further noted that some representatives had been accused of collecting money from students under various pretexts, interfering with administrative processes, and intimidating colleagues and faculty members.
“The University of Sierra Leone remains committed to maintaining a fair and transparent academic environment that promotes integrity and respect for all,” the release continued. “The ban takes immediate effect across the constituent colleges—Fourah Bay College, the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).”
Following the directive, all lecturers and faculty members have been instructed to stop engaging class representatives in any official academic or administrative matters. Instead, the University will now rely on formal communication channels directly managed by faculty offices and student affairs units to ensure that students’ concerns and academic issues are properly addressed.
Professor Lebbie emphasized that the move was not intended to stifle student participation but to restore discipline and accountability within the University community. He assured students that alternative systems would soon be introduced to ensure that legitimate academic and administrative concerns are effectively communicated without room for exploitation.
The University’s management reaffirmed its commitment to upholding its core values of transparency, fairness, and academic integrity, calling on students and staff to support the new policy for the betterment of the institution.
