Prof. Kandeh VS USL Debacle… Who’s Fooling Who?
Prof. Kandeh VS USL Debacle… Who’s Fooling Who?
Prof. Kandeh VS USL Debacle…
Who’s Fooling Who?
By Kelvin Jay
The University of Sierra Leone administration has terminated the service of a seasoned lecturer, Professor Jimmy Kandeh, for what many believed to have criticized the current state of affairs in the country in a national TV where the Minister of Information and Communication was also a guest.
During an interview on AYV on Sunday where Professor Jimmy Kandeh was featured as one the panelists to discuss issues around democracy and good governance, he threw light on the status of democracy in SierraLeone, and asserted that the democracy we are enjoying today was brought by the SierraLeonean Students in the 19th century.
He also debunked the claims made by the Minister of Information and Communications that President Bio is the father of Democracy in SierraLeone; and stated unequivocally that it was neither Julius Maada Bio nor the SLPP that brought democracy in SierraLeone but the students of this country.
On the educational system, Professor Kandeh further disclosed the endemic corruption surrounding the educational sector wherein students pay money to teachers and lecturers to get their grades and also spoke about the sex for grades issue as an impediment affecting the educational sector.
According to him, the more reason why teachers are embarking on corruption is because of the delay in the payment of their salaries.
Within 24 hours after he expressed his views on national TV, rumors were parading in various quarters on social media that Professor Kandeh was sacked as lecturer of FBC.
In response to that rumors, the University of SierraLeone in a press release dated 16th March, 2023, dispelled the rumors circulating about the sacking of Professor Kandeh, furthering that “Prof. Kandeh was engaged in January 2022 and given a contract for one year which ended in December 2022”.
The USL Press Release notes that on 12th December,2022 the Registry wrote to all FBC contracted staff that including Prof Kandeh informing them about the expiration of their contract on 31st December,2022. The USL says that the narrative on social media about the reason for the sacking of Professor Kandeh is untrue and is skewed to present the unfortunate picture that he was victimized because of his political views.
Reacting to the claims made by USL, Professor Kandeh, in his facebook page, stated boldly that he was not contacted in December about any contact renewal, noting “infact I worked and was paid in January and February of this year which contradict the press release that my contract ended last December”.
He went on to explain how he was told verbally by the Political Science Head of Department that he has been dismissed.
“I was told verbally that I have been dismissed just as I was about to teach my Master’s class yesterday”, Prof. Kandeh said in his facebook page, adding that just after he had the news, he spoke to spoke to the FBC Principal and DVC Professor Kelleh Mansaray, who told him that it was the HOD that refused to sign off his renewal letter.
As if that is not enough, Prof Kandeh, said he contacted Professor Foday Sahr, USL Vice Chancellor and the man who hired him, but they both promised to give him a call after returning from Nigeria this weekend.
Stating further: “I have had it with FBC. This is my second firing, (the first was as a doctoral student from Wisconsin in 1985) and I will never teach here again. I even have an outstanding judgement against the university for wrongful dismissal in 85/86… I feel bad for students who deserve better. I put in a lot of time developing new courses that will never be taught here”, said Professor Kandeh and promised to talk more after he has received his termination letter.
He concluded by describing the USL Press Release as false and extremely deceptive.
