We have not dismissed 38 students – UEW denies viral reports

The Public Relations Officer for the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ernest Azuntiga, has responded to widely circulated reports that the institution has withdrawn 38 students due to poor academic performance.

Addressing the issue of Asaase Radio on Monday, March 17, 2025, Azuntiga clarified that the reports are inaccurate as no student has been dismissed from the institution.

He explained that the viral document, which listed the names of some Level 100 first-year students with the directive for them to be withdrawn for failing to meet the minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 1.0, originated from a specific department and was leaked.

The document, he said, aimed to invoke certain provisions from the students' handbook and to draw the faculty's attention to the challenges faced by the 38 students.

“I think that what you have seen in the public domain is actually a leaked document from a department. The head of the department sought to invoke session 421 regulation in the student handbook and draw attention to faculty members of the situation of those students,” he stated.

Azuntiga further clarified that the communication or decision was inconclusive, as it came from a single department.

He added that the department cannot independently dismiss students, as such a decision requires a thorough process involving all relevant stakeholders before reaching such a crucial conclusion.

“I must say that communication was not conclusive and a head of department could not on its own dismiss students, as it were. It has to go through processes,” he emphasised.

He dismissed reports and claims that the students who acquired a CGPA below the required minimum of 1.0 have been expelled from the institution.

“It's not true that 38 students have been dismissed. What it says is that attention has been drawn to the situation of those 38 students. It goes through a process before a decision is taken,” he added.

Background

News went rife on March 11, 2025, of UEW withdrawing 38 Level 100 students.

This was communicated via a letter dated March 7, 2025, signed by Dr. Mohammed Adam, Acting Head of Department (HOD), and addressed to the Department of Social Studies Education (DSSE).

“This memo informs you that the attached list of students has been withdrawn from the University, effective immediately,” the letter stated.

“This action is based on the said students’ failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement of 1.0 and/or failure in more than the permissible number of courses after resists, as stipulated in section 4.2.1 of the Revised Undergraduate Students’ Handbook (2019),” the letter explained.

“This decision was arrived at after an audit and review of both their First and Second Semester Examination results (2023/2024 Academic Year), during which the affected students were duly counseled prior to their withdrawal.

“As a result, these students are ineligible to attend Level 200 lectures or take part in the Mid-Semester and End-of-Semester Examinations for Level 200 courses.”

The letter instructed, “Please ensure appropriate measures are taken to reflect these changes in your course register.

“The attached document details each student’s index number, name, and reason for withdrawal. Your prompt attention to this matter is crucial,” the letter noted.

Of the 38 students, 32 fell below the 1.0 CGPA requirement, while the remaining six failed more than three courses at the end of the 2023/2024 academic year.

MAG/EK

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