Dropouts blamed on poor teaching

John Denham provoked 바카라사이트 ire of academics in his last week as Universities Secretary by suggesting that higher dropout rates at some universities could be 바카라사이트 result of poor teaching.

As official statistics on student retention and access were published, Mr Denham wrote to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England to voice his concerns.

"No doubt 바카라사이트re will be a number of factors to explain why certain institutions have particularly low retention rates. However, it seems likely that 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and 바카라사이트 student experience will be important components," 바카라사이트 letter says.

The University and College Union said it was "outraged and astonished" by his comments, while Les Ebdon, chair of 바카라사이트 Million+ think-tank, said 바카라사이트re was no evidence for 바카라사이트 claim.

The letter adds that 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency may consider retention rates in future audits.

Data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that among students starting full-time first degrees in 바카라사이트 UK in 2006-07, 바카라사이트 proportion who had dropped out a year later was 9 per cent, up from 8.6 per cent in 2005-06. The proportion of young full-time undergraduate entrants from state schools in 2007-08 rose from 88.3 to 88.5 per cent, but those from lower socio-economic groups fell from 30.3 to 30.1 per cent.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

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