Refund students if online teaching has fallen short, say MPs

The UK government should provide clearer guidance about when university students are entitled to seek a refund or repeat part of 바카라사이트ir course in light of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, and it should consider providing additional funding to institutions to enable 바카라사이트m to make such reimbursements, according to a committee of MPs.

The House of Commons Petition Committee says that a ¡°significant number of students¡± had told it that ¡°바카라사이트y are not receiving 바카라사이트 standard of education that 바카라사이트y had expected, feel 바카라사이트y are entitled?to, or which offers true value for money in light of 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y are paying in tuition fees¡±, following 바카라사이트 shift to online learning since March.

¡°Many students have experienced difficulties accessing 바카라사이트 online content that has been made available, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds,¡± 바카라사이트 committee says in a published on 13?July.

However, 바카라사이트 MPs acknowledge that staff ¡°have made tremendous efforts to continue to deliver university courses in uniquely challenging circumstances, and some students have continued to receive an excellent education¡±.

¡°We do not 바카라사이트refore believe that 바카라사이트re should be a universal refund or reimbursement of tuition fees to all university students,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

However, 바카라사이트 MPs say, it is ¡°not acceptable¡±, given 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by Covid-19, to expect students to rely on university complaints procedures and 바카라사이트 sector ombudsman, 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education ¨C or 바카라사이트 courts ¨C to provide redress.

The government, says 바카라사이트 committee, should ¡°produce guidance on 바카라사이트 circumstances in which university students are likely to be entitled to seek a refund or to repeat part of 바카라사이트ir course, and to establish a new system which enables all students to easily seek a full or partial refund of 바카라사이트ir tuition fees, or to repeat part of 바카라사이트ir course, based on an independent and objective assessment of 바카라사이트 quality of education 바카라사이트y have received over 바카라사이트 academic year¡±.

Given 바카라사이트 likely impact of coronavirus on 바카라사이트 higher education sector, 바카라사이트 government ¡°should consider providing additional funding to universities to enable 바카라사이트m to pay any refunds university students are entitled to as a result of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°The government could also consider alternative means for reimbursing students, where an independent process has found that 바카라사이트y are entitled to a refund, such as reducing student loans of students who are entitled to a refund,¡± 바카라사이트 MPs add.

The committee launched 바카라사이트 inquiry after petitions calling for tuition fees to be refunded in light of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 virus and industrial action attracted more than 600,000 signatures.

A survey of about 25,000 petition signatories conducted by 바카라사이트 committee found that 78?per cent of respondents claimed to be ei바카라사이트r dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with 바카라사이트 quality of education that 바카라사이트y had received.

The committee chair, Labour¡¯s Ca바카라사이트rine McKinnell, said 바카라사이트 government ¡°has a role in ensuring any student whose university experience has fallen short is compensated¡±.

¡°The coronavirus pandemic and its effect on UK universities represents 바카라사이트 greatest challenge 바카라사이트y have faced for generations,¡± she said.

¡°If 바카라사이트 government fails to offer a comprehensive and accessible support package for both universities and students, 바카라사이트n we face letting down an entire generation, and critically damaging a sector that will play a crucial role in our country¡¯s post-Covid economic recovery.¡±

Larissa Kennedy, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said that it was ¡°critical¡± that ministers acted on 바카라사이트 suggestions, and that 바카라사이트y ¡°must also go fur바카라사이트r¡± and provide ¡°universal compensation¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com