Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has expelled 42 students following investigations into allegations of examination malpractice.
The affected students comprise 31 Higher National Diploma (HND) students and 11 National Diploma (ND) students drawn from various institutes and programmes of the institution.
The Polytechnic disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the Principal Assistant Registrar, Academic Board Matters Division, Ibrahim Esin.
According to Esin, the affected students were investigated by the institution’s Examination Malpractice Committee after allegations of examination malpractice were made against them.
He said the students were found guilty after due investigation and that their actions violated the Matriculation Oath they took upon admission to the institution.
Esin added that the expulsions were approved in line with the provisions of the Polytechnic’s Students’ Handbook.
He said the disciplinary action had effectively ended the students’ relationship with the institution.
A breakdown of the expelled students showed that the Institute of Finance and Management Studies recorded the highest number, with 23 students affected.
The Institute of Technology followed with eight students, while four students each were expelled from the Institute of Information and Communication Technology and the Centre for Continuing Education.
Two students from the Institute of Health Technology and one from the Institute of General Studies were also expelled.
The affected students were enrolled in various programmes, including Mechatronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Strategic Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Accountancy, Electrical/Electronic Engineering and Medical Imaging Technology.
Other programmes included Microfinance and Entrepreneurship Development, Social Development, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and Industrial and Labour Relations.
The Polytechnic also directed the expelled students to return any property belonging to the institution that remained in their possession.
Esin said the property should be handed over to the students’ respective Heads of Department or other designated authorities.
The disciplinary action followed the conclusion of the examination malpractice investigations and the subsequent approval of the expulsions by the appropriate authorities of the Polytechnic.
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