Education

Universities ‘failing to mark down students’ for poor writing skills

Universities and colleges are failing to mark down students for poor spelling, grammar and punctuation, which is leading to grade inflation because of a misguided application of equalities legislation, according to England’s higher education regulator.

After a review of assessment policies at five institutions, the Office for Students (OfS) said it feared that staff being allowed to ignore errors in students’ written work was “widespread”. It warned that it was willing to punish universities for failing to tackle poor writing skills.

The review follows cases this year of institutions using “inclusive assessment” policies more widely, and only taking quality of writing into account in courses where it was deemed to be critical, leading to condemnation from ministers.

Susan Lapworth, the OfS’s director of regulation, said: “The common features we have seen in assessment policies suggest that poor spelling, punctuation and grammar may be accepted across the sector. In publishing this report, we are being clear with universities and colleges that we want to see change.

“Effective assessment should take into account all aspects of a student’s work, and this includes their ability to express themselves effectively and correctly in written English.”

The OfS said its inspectors “analysed examples of assessed student work from a range of modules and disciplines”, along with marking criteria and staff comments, to identify how “language accuracy” was being assessed in practice.

It said it found “common themes that gave us cause for regulatory concern”, including interpretations of the Equality Act and similar legislation made by several universities to justify not assessing proficiency in written English for all students.

“As a consequence, it appears that accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar is not assessed for many students at these providers, and in some cases its assessment is explicitly not permitted.

“Compliance with this legislation does not in our view justify removing assessment of written proficiency in English for all students,” the OfS stated.

“We would expect providers to assess spelling, punctuation and grammar for most students and courses.”

The regulator also suggested that poor assessment practices “could be an indicator of wider concerns” about institutions, with low standards partly behind the increasing proportion of top class degrees being awarded.

“If the policies and approaches identified in this report are leading to students getting higher marks than they otherwise would, for instance because poor proficiency in written English is not being routinely assessed, then this not only undermines the rigour of assessment processes, but also contributes to unexplained grade inflation,” the review said.

The OfS added that it would “test this hypothesis” through further investigation.

However, critics said the OfS’s review of five case studies was too narrow and that such assessment policies were unlikely to be widespread among the more than 400 institutions registered with the regulator.

Universities UK, which represents more than 140 mainstream higher education institutions, said: “Universities fully recognise the importance of English language proficiency and effective communication skills. Their courses and assessments are designed to assess a wide range of skills and knowledge.

“As the OfS notes, this report refers to a small number of universities. The OfS also recognises that practices will differ across the large and diverse university sector, and there is no evidence in what has been presented to suggest the practices causing concern are the norm.”

Michelle Donelan, the universities minister for England, said: “The government is determined to drive up standards at universities so that every student can benefit from a quality education which leads to good outcomes, and it is right that the Office for Students is putting universities that disregard poor written English on notice.”

Education

NUC Approves 25 courses for Kogi varsity, Kabba

The National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body, has approved the 25 courses presented to it by the new Kogi State University, Kabba, for its takeoff.

This development has paved the way for the commencement of students’ admission into the institution as a precursor to the start of academic activities.

The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Area Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, made this known at a special Thanksgiving service held at ECWA Church, Kabba.

Oba Owoniyi said the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, informed him that contractors were at work at the university campus to prepare it for the commencement of academic activities.

The governor, according to the traditional ruler, also gave assurance of his administration’s commitment to ensuring the smooth takeoff of the institution before the new government assumes office next month.

Towards that end, he said a special allocation of N200 million per month has been approved for the university, and that disbursement has taken off with immediate effect.

Governor Bello, the monarch said, further gave assurance of his unwavering support for the institution even after the end of his tenure.

He said the establishment of the university was the government’s well-considered answer to the yearnings of the people of Okunland for higher education.

Oba Owoniyi appealed to stakeholders to support the institution to enable it to raise its head among its peers.

He also thanked the Okun people for ensuring that peace reigned in Okunland before, during, and after the recent governorship election in the state.

Education

UNILORIN Grants 25% School Fees Discount To Staff Children

The University of Ilorin has granted a 25 per cent school fees rebate to children of its staff members.

The rebate was approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, following a meeting with university-based union leaders on Thursday.

According to a tweet shared via the institution’s handle on X, the rebate seeks to cater to the staff welfare of the school.

The Registrar, Mr. Mansur Alfanla, shared the update in an interview with UNILORIN Bulletin.

The tweet stated that the VC’s decision “reflects a deep understanding of the economic challenges facing the country, and it’s a positive step towards supporting the university community.”

The tweet read in parts: “The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, has just given a major boost to staff welfare. Following this morning’s meeting with university-based union leaders, a 25% school fees rebate has been approved for the children of University of Ilorin staff.

“To avail of this incredible opportunity, staff members are requested to check their emails and respond to the provided links between 9 a.m. today (Thursday, December 7, 2023) and noon tomorrow (Friday, December 8, 2023).”

The union leaders, including the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Alex Akanmu; the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Naheem Falowo; the Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists, Paul Awolola; and Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, UNILORIN Branch, Suberu Ibrahim; were instrumental in the decision-making process during the early morning meeting that began at 7:30 a.m.

The tweet further noted that the rebate applies to “officially registered biological children” which covers both freshers and returning students.”

It added that a maximum of four children of staff are eligible for the rebate.

Reacting to the development on behalf of other unions, Akanmu, recognised and commended the VC and the “entire management for this positive move”.

Education

Unilorin Announces Downward Review of School Fees for Students

Authorities of the University of Ilorin announced on Monday a downward review of charges payable by students for the 2022–2023 academic session as academic activities resumed.

The announcement of the new charges followed a series of meetings between the university’s management, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Abayomi Omotesho, and the Students’ Union, led by its president, Comrade Joseph Adesunkanmi Ologundudu.

The new charges range between N114,720 and N215,820 for new students and N52,700 and N91,430 for returning students, depending on their courses of study.

This reflects a significant reduction from the earlier released charges, which ranged between N138,240 and N254,640 for new students and N69,360 and N103,560 for returning students, depending on their courses of study.

The university had initially released charges on November 24, 2023, through its official social media platforms but announced a downward review on November 28, 2023, after the meeting with the students’ union leadership.

It quoted the deputy vice chancellor as saying that the university addressed the students’ concerns through dialogue to demonstrate its commitment to fostering a supportive and conducive learning environment for all members of the academic community.

In his reaction, the president of the students’ union, Comrade Ologundudu, expressed gratitude to the university management for its thoughtfulness, as reflected in the adjustment of the charges