Doloquee
Cllr. Frances Johnson-Allison, an esteemed faculty member at the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School, has tendered her resignation following a dispute over the graduation of two students. The controversy arose after allegations surfaced that the students had bribed a staff member in Johnson-Allison’s office to change their failing grades.
In a letter addressed to Cllr. Jallah Barbu, the Dean of the Law School, Johnson-Allison expressed her disappointment with the University Faculty Senate’s decision to allow the graduation of the accused students. She stated that she had provided testimony during a conference call, emphasizing her concerns about academic integrity, yet her objections seemed to have been disregarded.
Attributing her decision to the university’s apparent prioritization of graduation over maintaining academic excellence, Johnson-Allison stated, “Based on this fact, I have decided to reinstate my resignation from the law school.” The professor felt that the institution was not sufficiently committed to upholding academic integrity and pursuing due diligence in the face of misconduct.
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Alimatu Nuri Hutchinson and Ebenezer Mass Wilson, the students in question, denied failing Johnson-Allison’s Children’s Law course. The professor, who was reportedly on vacation in the United States at the time, maintained that the students had indeed failed. However, the University of Liberia stated that the allegations against Hutchinson and Wilson had not been formally communicated, although an investigation had been conducted prior to their graduation.
During a press conference, Dr. Julius Nelson, President of the University of Liberia, defended the decision to graduate the students, citing the need to give them the benefit of the doubt. He emphasized the importance of adhering to official channels for raising complaints and asserted that formal documentation was required to initiate any further action.
The resignation of Johnson-Allison, known for her expertise and prominent positions in Liberia’s legal and integrity institutions, represents a potential setback for the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School. The University of Liberia, established in 1862 and comprising six colleges, including the nation’s sole law school, holds a significant place in the country’s educational landscape.
As the institution grapples with the fallout from this grading controversy, the departure of one of its esteemed professors could impact its standing and reputation moving forward. The source of this article comes from the Liberia Observer website.
