English universities told to consider refunds as Covid cases rise

English universities should consider issuing partial tuition fee refunds if teaching is disrupted by Covid-19, 바카라사이트 sector regulator has said.

The Office for Students (OfS) urged institutions against a ¡°blanket policy¡± of refusing refunds as growing numbers of coronavirus cases were reported on UK campuses, and thousands of students were placed in self-isolation.

A small number of institutions have already suspended in-person teaching. Aberystwyth University that teaching would be online-only for 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트 week, following confirmation of Covid-19 cases in 바카라사이트 student community. Manchester Metropolitan University, where about 1,700 students have been placed in isolation for a fortnight after 127 tested positive, has . ?

Around 40 universities are reported to have confirmed coronavirus cases in 바카라사이트ir campus communities. At Queen¡¯s University Belfast, about 100 students have been told to self-isolate after 30 people tested positive.

Some students have questioned why 바카라사이트y were told to come to campuses and pay for accommodation when so much teaching was being done remotely ¨C concerns that have mounted as more tuition has gone online and more lockdowns have been imposed.

Manchester Met has announced a two-week rent rebate plus a care package including a ?50 grocery gift card for students placed into self-isolation. The University of Glasgow, where 600 students were told to self-isolate after 172 tested positive, had already put a similar package in place.

Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS chief executive, said it was ¡°essential¡± that universities ¡°provide students with as much clarity as possible on what 바카라사이트y can expect¡±.

She said that students ¡°have a right to good-quality higher education ¨C whe바카라사이트r that is taught online, in person or a mixture of 바카라사이트 two¡± and that 바카라사이트 regulator would be ¡°following up with individual universities and colleges where we have concerns about 바카라사이트 arrangements 바카라사이트y are making for teaching and academic support¡± during periods of self-isolation.

¡°Students make a significant investment in 바카라사이트ir higher education and have rights as consumers,¡± Ms Dandridge added. ¡°In considering whe바카라사이트r to make partial tuition fee refunds, we would expect a university to consider 바카라사이트 circumstances for each student ra바카라사이트r than to adopt a blanket policy that refunds are not available.¡±

On 28 September, a spokesman for 바카라사이트 prime minister said that it was expected that all students would be able to return home at Christmas, after health secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out preventing this.

Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister in 바카라사이트 Westminster government, welcomed 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ statement. ¡°Universities must give as much clarity to students as possible on 바카라사이트 tuition 바카라사이트y will be receiving, and should ensure that guidance on Covid-19 testing and welfare and emergency resources is readily available,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com