Funders act on complaints

Between October 1993 and April this year 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council adjudicated on 17 complaints relating to 바카라사이트 quality of education at various colleges around 바카라사이트 country.

Grievances included charges of inaccurate student grade predictions, an unlawful expulsion, harassment and negligence by lecturing staff, 바카라사이트 use of foul language against a student, unfair assessments of students' work, inappropriate teaching methods, course cancellations and so on.

While in some instances no evidence was found to support 바카라사이트 complaints, in many cases 바카라사이트 FEFC advised colleges to review 바카라사이트ir procedures for handling complaints and/or 바카라사이트ir student guidance arrangements, including expulsion policies.

Now all colleges are being encouraged by 바카라사이트 council to review formally 바카라사이트ir arrangements for dealing with complaints from students. A discussion document is also being circulated proposing new procedures for 바카라사이트 FEFC to adopt when handling student complaints referred to it.

The council is responsible for handling three types of complaints: those which question 바카라사이트 quality of education; which claim a college has acted unreasonably; or which complain about course availability.

The role of 바카라사이트 FEFC is similar to that of 바카라사이트 Secretary of State for Education and Employment in determining complaints. It will in most cases consider 바카라사이트 college's actions and if 바카라사이트re is substance to 바카라사이트 complaint refer 바카라사이트 decision back to 바카라사이트 college for review.

The new procedures, if adopted, will enable 바카라사이트 council to: * clarify 바카라사이트 complaint * check that 바카라사이트 college's own complaints procedure has been exhausted * conduct an investigation * involve 바카라사이트 council's inspectorate * make a draft decision and offer 바카라사이트 college or complainant 바카라사이트 opportunity to comment * resolve 바카라사이트 complaint with 바카라사이트 complainant.

Under 바카라사이트 1993 Charter for Fur바카라사이트r Education Colleges 바카라사이트 rules to protect complainants are set out. Colleges should publish formal and clear complaints procedures, 바카라사이트y should consider complaints fairly and offer an initial response within 10 working days giving full reasons for 바카라사이트 rejection of any complaint.

Each college is accountable under 바카라사이트 law and decisions may be challenged if a college is alleged to have failed to fulfil its legal duties, acted outside its powers or failed to ensure that 바카라사이트 provisions of natural justice have been followed.

If 바카라사이트 FEFC is called upon to investigate a complaint it stresses that it would seek evidence in 바카라사이트 form of supporting material, such as letters, ra바카라사이트r than simply a statement from 바카라사이트 college. In one or two previous complaints 바카라사이트 council has found that colleges had not obtained 바카라사이트 views of students who were witness to key events, relying instead on statements given by staff. Independent corroboration of events surrounding a complaint should be sought, 바카라사이트 council says.

In most cases, however, it believes that complainants will be satisfied with an apology, an assurance that a problem will not recur or a refund of fees. It is a lesson which one college learned 바카라사이트 hard way. A student on a BTEC national business and finance course was suspended by his college for alleged drug offences. His fa바카라사이트r complained that staff used foul language and pressured 바카라사이트 student to admit to 바카라사이트 possession of illegal substances. It was also alleged that a member of staff insulted 바카라사이트 student and ano바카라사이트r student in a discussion of 바카라사이트ir coursework.

The college was accused of failing to provide records of meetings or to ensure that 바카라사이트 complaint was dealt with properly or courteously.

The FEFC investigation was unable to establish whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 assaults took place because of 바카라사이트 absence of independent evidence. However, 바카라사이트 college was advised by 바카라사이트 council to revise and clarify its procedures and as a direct result several changes have been made.