The authority of Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, has expelled 131 students for their involvement in examination malpractice between 2003 and 2010.

They were among the 835 students whose cases were investigated by the institution’s disciplinary committee.

A copy of the committee’s report made available to newsmen showed that 480 other students were also rusticated by the institution for a similar offence during the period.

The report showed that 14 students were suspended indefinitely, while 49 others were made to repeat the courses in which they were caught cheating during the examination.

One hundred and fifty-eight students were, however, exonerated from their alleged involvement in the malpractice.

The report indicated that 589 male and 246 female students were involved in all the cases of malpractice.

In all, 329 males and 151 females were rusticated, while 84 males and 47 females were expelled.

It said that eight male and six female students were expelled indefinitely, while 92 male and 66 female student were exonerated from the allegations.

The report continued that 495 cases of malpractice, which was the highest, were recorded in the 2006/2007 academic session.

The session’s record showed that 240 male and 155 female students were involved in the malpractice, out of which 50 male and 30 female students were expelled, while 170 males and 100 females were rusticated.

In the 2009/2010 session, 102 students, comprising 65 males and 37 females, were sanctioned, 48 males and 17 females were rusticated, while 10 males and eight females were expelled.

The report also stated that 34 cases, involving 25 male and nine female students, the lowest during the period, were recorded in the 2008/2009 session.

Reacting to the development, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Temi Akporhomor, said the institution has zero tolerance for examination malpractice and other vices.

He noted that most of the cases of examination malpractice involved students suspected to be cultists , adding that some male students were apprehended by the institution’s security men for alleged rape, and had been handed over to the police.