Eight Students Suspended for Academic Malpractice at Catholic Run Mission School in Lofa

By J. Mason Kollie

Eight students have been suspended by the administration of the St. Joseph Catholic High School in Voinjama for engaging in what they school described as “academic malpractice” during the first marking period test.

The suspension happened on Friday, October 17, 2025 at which time the students were caught in the act. The students were suspended for two weeks.

Those suspended are: Dorbor Karsor of the 11 grade, Rebecca Flomo of grade 12, Mafatumata Sheriff of grade 11, Philip Nyumah of grade 12 and Hansan S.M. Kromah of grade11. Others include, Aminata M. Sheriff, grade 12, Moses Kanneh, grade 9, Karmoh and Selebeh of grade 9 respectively.

According to the school administration, some students were caught cheating with smartphones using Meta AI, while others were found with sheets of paper commonly known as “passport”. All suspended students are expected to return to school on November 3, 2025.  “If they repeat this act next time, they will face expulsion”, Vice Principal for Instruction (VPI), James Kollie said.

The VPI, James Kollie disclosed that the decision to suspend these students is in accordance with the student handbook. He noted that the students will be home for two weeks as of the date of the suspension and are expected to return to school with letters of apology.  

James Kollie said the suspension serves as a warning and example to others, noting, those students caught cheating will be allowed to complete their exams before their suspension to avoid incomplete. The young VPI believes this approach will motivate students to study harder and discourage cheating.

Meanwhile, the administration of the St. Joseph Catholic Mission School in Voinjama is urging students to focus on their lessons, stating that the time spent preparing cheating materials should instead be used for studies. The administration reiterated that if any of the suspended students return and repeat the act, they will be expelled from the school with immediate effect.

For their part, the suspended students pleaded for mercy and promised not to engage in academic malpractices again, and if such act were to ever happened again, they should be expelled.

“It was a mistake, but we pray that it will never happen again,” the suspended students lamented.