Enugu varsity probes admission racketeering

THE Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has constituted a panel to investigate its members of staff allegedly involved in the illegal admission that led to the expulsion of 544 students of the school.Vice Chancellor (VC), ESUT, Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, who disclosed this at the 31st matriculation ceremony of the university, also said the panel would review protests from some of the expelled students.He assured that any students found to have been expelled in error would be recalled while members of staff implicated in the alleged admission racketeering would be sanctioned.Although Onyeji did not disclose the composition of the panel, he advised the matriculating students to take seriously their studies, warning that the institution would not spare any of them found involved in examination malpractice.Restating that the school has zero-tolerance for examination cheats, the VC said 11 students of the university have been expelled and 14 others suspended following their established involvement in examination malpractice.He announced that as part of measures to encourage academic excellence in ESUT, especially among the students, scholarship now awaits students who made a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.50.Onyeji said such students would enjoy free tuition for one academic year and would be addressed as 'University Scholars'.The students could also retain the scholarship and study freely until they graduate if they scored up to 4.0 CGPA in their subsequent years of study.The VC further disclosed that a programme aimed at encouraging and rewarding excellence in teaching and research among academic staff of ESUT has been put in place.Under the programme, Onyeji said two awards entitled: 'Distinguished Teachers' Award and 'Distinguished Researchers' Award' have been instituted to motivate academic staff excel in their various fields of study.Winners of the awards would smile home with N3 million yearly.Four thousand fresh students matriculated at the event.
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