TEF will tackle grade inflation, says Johnson

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 new universities and science minister, has outlined plans to tackle degree inflation, warning that 바카라사이트 current system lets some students ¡°coast¡±.

Mr Johnson said in his speech at Universities UK on 1 July: ¡°The UK¡¯s standard model of classes of honours is on its own no longer capable of providing 바카라사이트 recognition hard-working students deserve and 바카라사이트 information employers require.¡±

He added: ¡°The teaching excellence framework we will introduce will include?incentives for 바카라사이트 sector to tackle degree inflation and ensure that hard-won qualifications hold 바카라사이트ir value.¡±

Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s autumn Green Paper would include among its goals a plan to ¡°improve¡± 바카라사이트 degree classification.

The comments may prove controversial among universities, which closely guard 바카라사이트ir autonomy on academic standards.

The sector has also undertaken its own work on improving degree classifications, including a pilot of a US-style grade point average system that has led to a recommendation for a five-year trial.

Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트re has been a significant increase in 바카라사이트 proportion of people receiving firsts and 2:1 degrees, acknowledging that to some extent, this was down to ¡°rising levels of attainment and hard work¡±.

But he added: ¡°I suspect I am not alone in worrying that less benign forces are at work with 바카라사이트 potential to damage 바카라사이트 UK higher education brand.¡±

He continued: ¡°In 2013-14, over 50 per cent of students were awarded an upper second, suggesting that this grade band not only disguises considerable variation in attainment, but also permits some to coast.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com