University suspends lecturer for altering students examination results

The University of Calabar (UniCal) in Nigeria has officially suspended Joseph Akpan, a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology, due to serious allegations of tampering with examination result scripts.

This suspension, effective from October 8, 2024, marks a significant action by the university in its ongoing commitment to maintain academic integrity and uphold the standards of conduct among its faculty members.

The announcement was made by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, during a press conference in Calabar.

She revealed that Akpan, who held the position of Head of Department (HOD), allegedly manipulated examination results for a total of 235 out of 242 scripts he was responsible for overseeing.

The specific course in question is the Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology (PHM 311), where the integrity of the assessment process has come under scrutiny.

Professor Obi detailed the extent of the misconduct, stating that the lecturer not only altered scores but also assigned marks to two students who did not actually take the examinations.

This practice is considered a severe breach of ethical standards, especially given Akpan’s role and the trust placed in him as an academic leader.

According to the Vice Chancellor, only five scripts were genuinely marked without any alterations.

In a troubling revelation, Professor Obi indicated that Akpan had confessed to the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC) regarding his actions.

During the proceedings, he purportedly admitted to inflating scores in a bid to protect the department’s reputation, a justification that the university administration found both “ridiculous and unacceptable.”

As a consequence of his actions, the university has taken decisive measures: Akpan has been relieved of his duties as HOD and Coordinator for PHM 311.

Furthermore, his official responsibilities will be reassigned to other qualified faculty members within the department to ensure continuity and uphold academic standards.

In addition to his suspension, Akpan has been instructed to refrain from entering the university premises unless he is responding to inquiries from relevant university committees regarding this matter.

The university’s administration emphasizes the importance of ethical practices in academia and remains vigilant in addressing any breaches to maintain the integrity of its educational environment.

This incident has sparked conversations about the importance of transparency and accountability within educational institutions, and the steps necessary to prevent such occurrences in the future.