University Education

[rosepetal]

Shouldn't a university education only be offered to the most academically able students? For example, how can someone who only obtained a poor A-Level grade in a subject be expected to study that subject at degree level?

[rosepetal]

Thanks for the replies all. Pagey Lady the reason that this bothers me is that I paid �1,000 for the first year's tuition at an ex-polytechnic (for a BA in German and Spanish). I had to try and do group assignments with students that hadn't got a clue on the basics (e.g. we had to revise English grammar before moving onto German grammar!) and it was clear that many had no desire to learn and were there because university is now the automatic thing to do after school. The most scary thing was that many of them said they were considering teaching as a career. I did voluntary work in a school and witnessed a teacher making all sorts of spelling mistakes (Katepillar?, Roller Scate?), and that bothers me too. What's the point of the government insisting on a degree for teachers if it doesn't guarantee at a certain standard of education.

The education system is deeply flawed. Many employers now require job applicants to sit their own in-house tests as they simply cannot trust exam results to mean anything.

However, I do agree that non-academic skills should be nutured and given a equal status. Let's face it when my toilet leaked, I didn't need someone who could recite medieval German Court Poetry, but someone who was an experienced and reliable plumber.

[Andyvon]

It only used to the real cream who went to university. It now seems as if they will take anyone - especially for the softer degrees. I remember a girl starting work once who we were assured was extremely intelligent and had just graduated from university with a sociology degree. It then emerged that she had absolutely no idea about spelling! We even had to tell her how to spell peas - she didn't have a clue! Neither did she have a clue about the dates of WWII. How can someone graduate without even being able to read and write properly? Forget this rubbish that it doesn't matter now - it does!

I've even noticed this when playing Trivial Pursuit with a graduate, or watching a quiz - even University Challenge. They may know something about their own narrow subject - but the standards of general knowledge are almost non-existant. Any question about the world we live in, the universe, history etc is just met with blank stares.

A good education is an all-round thing. Anyone who professes any intelligence or education should surely be able to read and write and know a few basics of the world we live in - not just fall back on the "Well, I didn't study that" chestnut.

[kwicky]

The nursing profession has gone downhill ever since they were required to be educated to degree level. Let them take their degrees but don't debar nurses with low academic achievements from what is after all a caring profession and what we all depend on.

[SarCaustic]

There are far too many points here for me to address, so I'll try and keep it brief. As an A-level student I think it's unfair to dismiss students who perform well in them. I'm currently studying biology, chemistry, maths, spanish, english language and general studies (sadly) - that 6 A-levels and I'm on target for A grades in all of them. No that's not because the A-levels are easier, it's because I'm willing to work hard. From what I'm told by my teachers, in the days of old when 3 subjects were studied, they were studied in in slightly greater depth. However, as students take more subjects now, the workload is larger now. The rise in A grade passes may be contributed to the increase in popularity of the softer subjects, but that doesn't warrant sweeping generalisations suggesting that A-levels are easier.

Now a lot has been said about the poor spelling and grammar of graduates, but there's a good explanation for that. It's not a question of intelligence, as we all know that grammar and orthography are hardly good measures of a person's intellectual ability - the reason is that grammar is not taught in schools. Far too much time is spent in our schools teaching children useless skills like how to dissect abstruse poetry, decipher obsolete plays and design leaflets, giving us legions of students who could tell you all you want to know and about Seamus Heaney's ramblings, but can't write a formal letter or their own CV.

As for students who perform poorly in their A-levels, it's worth remembering that the A-levels may well be the last externally examined studies that they will undertake and they might well be more difficult than the degree courses that the students wish to study. They deserve another chance. But that's only my opinion.

We must avoid elitism and I don't advocate separating education into two tiers. However, it is worrying how university is presented as the only option for students, when it clearly isn't