Freetown, 7th July 2026- The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Sierra Leone (USL), has rusticated six students and terminated the contracts of six lecturers after an investigation confirmed widespread examination malpractice during the Pre‑Admission Examination for the Diploma in Nursing programme.
On March 10, 2026, COMAHS cancelled the exam, which involved more than 800 candidates, following allegations of irregularities. A seven-member committee was established to investigate the matter, reviewing reports from the Examinations Officer and supervisors.
The committee concluded that the malpractice posed a serious threat to the credibility of the admission process, undermined academic standards, and eroded public confidence in the institution’s commitment to fairness and transparency.
Out of 11 lecturers investigated, five were cleared of wrongdoing, while six were found guilty of violating USL’s Examination Regulations and Staff Code of Ethics. Their contracts will not be renewed. Six students directly implicated were rusticated in line with university disciplinary procedures.
Speaking to Truth Media, Bai Kandeh Turay, Communications Officer at COMAHS/USL, confirmed the disciplinary actions and emphasized that he personally supervised the examination. “The integrity of our assessment processes is non‑negotiable. We will continue to take firm action against anyone who compromises academic standards,” he said.
COMAHS reiterated its zero‑tolerance policy toward examination malpractice, stressing that protecting the credibility of its qualifications remains central to its mission of producing competent healthcare professionals. The University of Sierra Leone pledged to strengthen measures across all campuses to prevent future breaches.
