The British government has demanded that all universities return to pre-pandemic face-to-face education levels as complaints about college courses were revealed to have surged to record highs last year.
The Higher Education Independent Judges’ Office (OIA) said it received 2,763 student complaints in 2021, up 6% from 2020 levels, which is also a record high.
In a new report, OIA said, “Some students did not get the learning experience they reasonably expected,” and was influenced by “the cumulative impact of pandemics and industrial activities.” Said that.
Also, some students struggle with technology, especially in “online timed exams,” some have difficulty getting the technology to work at all, and others have poor typing skills affecting performance. ..
Complaints partially related to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic accounted for 37% of the complaints received, compared to 12% in 2020.
University Minister Michel Donneran wrote in The Telegraph: “Saving money, defeating the Zero-COVID policy, and increasing convenience are good reasons to reduce face-to-face education. Not. “
She said she “personally called” university leaders for a lack of face-to-face education, even though the restrictions on COVID-19 were relaxed and subsequently lifted.
“The majority of students now have the same amount of face-to-face education as before the pandemic,” she said. “A few stubborn universities are on a completely different path than our other universities.”
“We are giving more and more vague explanations as to why we are not returning to a complete face-to-face teaching experience suitable for students,” she said.
“We need to be honest about how the course is taught,” said Donneran, who wrote to the university to clarify whether the teachings were face-to-face.
She said she “doesn’t hesitate” to ask the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate universities that “have neglected to clarify.”
She also said she had told the student office to “put her boots on the ground” and investigate universities that were concerned about face-to-face offerings.
“There is no doubt that the Deputy Prime Minister, if investigated, could face serious consequences, including fines, for their colleges,” she wrote.
PA Media contributed to this report.
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