The chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), Professor A.M. Alghali has advised the government to dissolve the Sierra Leone University Court as an immediate first step to put the university administration back on track, following weeks of leadership crisis at the University of Sierra Leone (USL).
In a letter, dated 25 January, 2024, the Professor Alghali outlined the reasons for the recommendations of the TEC, including the establishment of an oversight committee as an interim measure.
The actions of the TEC have aroused intense debates, both within the university and policy circles.
The questions most people are asking are: how can a chairman, who has fought throughout his university career to defend and promote the independence of universities, advise government to dissolve the SLU Court? Is the decision informed by the growing public criticism of the university or his experience as a former vice chancellor? Perhaps, he sees the crisis as recipe for a protracted distraction that will not only expose the deep seated leadership crisis in the university but also drag the TEC and the Ministry of Higher Education into the disrepute.
Professor Alghali is deemed to be controversial but outspoken man with an impressive pedigree to defend his position. Would the government heed to his advice?
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, January 29th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)