Archives: August 2009

28 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Germany PhD Scandal

Author: transcriptresearch

Germany’s higher education system is reeling under a suspected bribery scandal involving potentially dozens of professors at 10 institutions throughout the country.  The investigation, which began last March with the seizure of documents in a raid, may continue for several more months as investigators try to uncover the linkages between  the (recently convicted) director of a newly bankrupt consulting firm and German university professors who are rumored to have accepted bribes for smoothing the process for PhD applicants, though there do not appear to be any irregularities on behalf of the students themselves.

For more information, see http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hw9M7TYtB9FgJr3eHXr3U_r18ktQD9AA0NCO3

27 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Nigerian Education Strikes

Author: transcriptresearch

Like France earlier this summer, teachers, education administrators, and students have been striking throughout Nigeria in recent months.  For Nigerian educators, the main reasons for the strikes revolve around money: unpaid salaries, agreed-upon raises that were never given, underfunded educational institutions, and illegal firings. So far, the strikes have affected more than 50 federal and state universities, though there has been mention that private institutions have temporarily participated as a show of solidarity. While money is at the heart of the situation, the impetus for the strikes that have effectively shut down higher education in Nigeria since June was the federal government’s plan to terminate the collective bargaining process entered into by the government, the Ministry of Education, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) back in 2006. The basic terms of agreement were centered on university funding, salaries, university autonomy/academic freedom, and other issues.  The three parties were supposed to sign off on the negotiations earlier this year, but despite reaching agreement in many areas, the government refused to sign off, leading to a warning strike by the ASUU in May.  In early June, the government terminated further negotiations, prompting the ASUU strike that began on June 22 and has not yet ended.  Now, it appears that the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) is also planning to strike starting September 1, also because of monetary promises left unfulfilled by the government, which would shut down primary and secondary schools in 19 (of 36) states.  The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) began striking last week, and other unions have are also participating at various staff and academic levels throughout the country.  The beginning of the strike interrupted scheduled post University Matriculation Exams (UME) at many institutions, some of which have been rescheduled, some already taken (despite the strike), some taken and results canceled (because they were given during the strike), and some on hold indefinitely.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200908270834.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/200908260726.html

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=152005

http://allafrica.com/stories/200908200758.html

26 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

India's New Regulatory Educational Body

Author: transcriptresearch

In keeping with other changes in India’s higher education landscape, the Ministry of Higher Education will be rolling out a new regulatory body that will oversee education in engineering colleges and other higher ed institutions.  Many goals are expected for this new regulatory body, including monitoring the 600+ engineering colleges for meeting AICTE requirements, modifying IIIT admissions policies, strengthening non-university higher ed institutes, ramping up teaching vacancies with qualified applicants, and mandatory accreditation.

More information can be found at http://www.thehindu.com/2009/08/20/stories/2009082058980100.htm

24 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

New Look to South African Senior Certificates

Author: transcriptresearch

South Africa’s Department of Basic Education has redesigned the new National Senior Certificates (NSC), making the coat of arms more prominent.  Seniors who graduated last year have waited nearly nine months for their results certificates but have been able to move forward with further education and employment goals by submitting results electronically and using the Statement of Results.  To qualify for the NSC, students need seven subjects, four which are compulsory (English, another language, mathematics, and life orientation) and three electives (chosen by the student from 27 options).

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=19950

http://www.monash.ac.za/prospective/admissions/south-africa-nsc.html

23 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

UK University Admissions and A-Level Updates

Author: transcriptresearch

University admissions in the UK is so fierce currently because there are over 135,000 students vying for about 22,000 seats.  Last year, nearly 30,000 fewer students applied for double the number of places.   Many universities are already full, and of those who still have open seats are seeing six times the number of applicants for the remaining openings.

The stagnant economy, record A-level grades, and a lack of financial support for universities have all contributed to a 10% increase in university applications during the reduction in student places.

Students who attended private schools earned more A grades on their Advanced Level Exams this year than those who attend state grammar or comprehensive schools or public colleges; in fact, over half the A Level grades for private school test-takers were graded A.  This marks the first time that more than 50% of the grades have been the top mark, creating worries that public schools are being left in the dust by private schools since, ultimately, students with better grades are more likely to get into the best universities.  Roughly 7% of students attend private schools; more than 50% of their A Level exams were graded A, and 90% were graded C or better.  In contrast, only 20% of comprehensive school attendees earned an A grade, and only 70% were graded C or better, while grammar school students were 40% and 85%, respectively.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/six-students-fighting-for-every-university-place-1774691.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6061156/A-levels-education-gap-widening.html

22 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Ungraded CXC Results in Barbados

Author: transcriptresearch

Staff at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) may be responsible for the subjects that were left ungraded on the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate for more than 100 students at the Tabaquite Composite School in Barbabos.  The marks for the School-Based Assessments were apparently not received by the CXC, despite having been sent by encrypted file from the school to the Ministry of Education, resulting in students being graded in only 2 of 7 subjects.  The grades have been resubmitted by the school, and students should get their results next week.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161521299

21 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

India: No More MPhil or PhD Programs at Open Universities

Author: transcriptresearch

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has barred India’s 14 Open Universities (including IGNOU) from conducting research programs, which effectively halts the Master and Doctor of Philosophy programs.  This decision was made as a result of declining quality of research programs in the country, but it contradicts an earlier decision of the UGC’s which had allowed MPhil and PhD degrees to provide alternatives to the National and State Eligibility Tests (NET and SET, respectively) for teacher recruitment.  The UGC’s ban on research projects at open universities will result in canceling more than 9,000 such projects currently underway amid concerns that the quality of research projects are declining across the Indian higher education landscape, not limited just to open universities.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/no-phd-mphil-at-open-universities-says-ugc/366466/

20 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Israel's Possible New Grading Scale

Author: transcriptresearch

Israel’s Ministry of Education is apparently considering a new secondary grading scale that will incorporate student effort into grades, possibly affecting the final grade by as much as 15-20%. According to the article linked below, currently, there are two components to student grades: exam grades and attendance.  This new proposal would introduce student preparation, homework, book reports, personal motivation, and other aspects that indicate a student is taking school seriously.  Apparently this topic has been much discussed among the secondary school teacher’s association for the last year as a way of reducing reliance purely on academic scores while encouraging students to apply themselves. It will be interesting to see how they quantify student effort.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1108230.html

20 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Transitional Curriculum in Guyana

Author: transcriptresearch

Guyana’s Ministry of Education is implementing a new, transitional six year curriculum as part of the 2009-2010 school year.  This new curriculum is geared towards post-primary students, specifically those who are under-performing (often before they even get to secondary school) and who ultimately drop out of school due, in large part, to poor reading and learning skills. The transitional year hopes to identify students who are struggling with these critical elements to bridge the gap between what they were unable to learn in their primary studies before continuing to secondary school.  More information about this intriguing program is available online at http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/guyana-review/08/20/transitional-six-6-year-curriculum/

19 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Trinidad & Tobago Exam Fees Waived

Author: transcriptresearch

Fees are now being waived in Trinidad & Tobago for private candidates who take the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exam.  Fees have been waived for those who take the exam through secondary schools, but now private candidates will no longer be responsible for paying exam fees (unless they register late).  This is an effort by the government to encourage more diverse groups of people to take the national exam. The other big difference is that students are now limited to only two free chances per exam subject.  For more information, see http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161519439

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