Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
THE Midlands State University (MSU) has reportedly dismissed nine lecturers from its Department of Media, Communication, Film and Theatre Arts for gross incompetence.
MSU acting director of marketing and communications, Mr Kudakwashe Bhowa, could neither deny nor confirm the development when asked for a comment, and only said the matter was private and confidential.
“Thank you for the inquiry. These are private contractual and human resources matters between the university and the individuals concerned,” he said.
“Consequently, in accordance with our duty of confidentiality and institutional policy, the university does not comment publicly on individual staffing affairs.”
However, a close source said the lecturers are accused of setting faulty examination papers, failing to rectify the errors, and failing to attend examination classes.
The source said the question papers carried a flawed instruction stating that candidates were to answer all questions in Section B and all three questions in Section B, when they should have stated that they were to answer all questions in Section A and three questions in Section B.
“The question papers were found to contain numerous errors. Furthermore, some lecturers were absent from the examination venue during the sitting of their respective papers, contrary to university regulations, which make attendance compulsory.
“There was also a failure to address the mistakes in a timely manner,” said a source who declined to be named.
The sources said initially 13 lecturers were charged and brought before a hearing after which nine where dismissed.
