By: Sahrfoa Matturie
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has officially scrapped the role of Class Representatives across all its campuses, a decision that has stirred debate among students and academic observers alike.
Speaking on AYV’s “Wake Up Sierra Leone” program, Dr. Tonya Musa, Director of Communications at USL, defended the move as a necessary step toward restoring order and integrity within the institution. He emphasized that the role of Class Representative was never formally recognized in the university’s governance framework or policy documents.
“Nowhere in our university policies is the role of Class Representative recognized,” Dr. Musa asserted. “The Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Aiah Lebbie, acted based on credible reports of extortion, intimidation, and unethical conduct by some individuals serving in that capacity. The university cannot allow informal structures to undermine academic discipline.”
Dr. Musa revealed that the decision followed several complaints from both students and lecturers, alleging that certain class reps had exploited their positions to demand money or favors in exchange for academic assistance or administrative support. He added that such practices eroded trust and contradicted the university’s core values of transparency and fairness.
According to him, the university administration is currently developing alternative communication systems that will facilitate interaction between lecturers and students without relying on unofficial intermediaries. These systems, he said, would ensure that students’ concerns are addressed promptly and through proper channels.
The ban, however, has generated mixed reactions among students. Some have expressed fears that removing class reps may slow down communication and coordination, particularly in large faculties where lecturers manage multiple classes. Others have welcomed the move, describing it as a long-overdue measure to curb favoritism, bias, and corruption that had become associated with the role.
For the university’s leadership, the measure forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen discipline, transparency, and accountability in student affairs. The administration believes that by eliminating informal power structures, it can foster a more equitable and ethical academic environment.
“This is not an attack on student leadership,” Dr. Musa clarified. “It is an institutional reform to ensure that engagement between students and staff is guided strictly by university policy, not by informal arrangements that can be manipulated.”
The development marks a significant shift in how USL manages its internal communication, signaling a new era of administrative control and policy-based governance across its constituent colleges — Fourah Bay College, IPAM, and COMAHS.
