20 UG students in BNI grip over grade manipulation

At least 20 University of Ghana students are in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for allegedly attempting to change their grades.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, said the students hacked the school’s grading system to change their grades but failed to cover the traces.

He told the National Union of Presbyterian Students (NUPS-G) on Sunday that the suspects are helping the BNI with investigations.

“We are aware students [are] soliciting for help, linking up to people around, trying to break through our system to change grades and to do all sort of funny things,” he said.

Grade manipulation by students is a worrying development that continues to engage school authorities. At least 10 students at the University of Professional Studies (UPS-A) confessed to changing their grades in 2016.

The students told Joy News they paid various sums of money ranging from GH¢1,500 to GH¢4,000 to have their poor exam grades changed.

There have been reports of attempts to hack into the grading system of the University of Ghana, but Prof Oduro Owusu said their system has been “tightened” to reject requests of hackers.

“Trials are working perfectly well. If you are caught or somebody is caught and it’s linked to your name, you will leave the university,” he said. Prof Oduro Owusu encouraged students to disregard individuals who approach them demanding a fee to manipulate their grades for them.

Disciplinary actions would be leveled against you if you are caught trying to manipulate the system, he said.

Source: myjoyonline