Lecturers' strike 'will hit 200,000 students'
Saturday, 27 May 2006
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More than 200,000 students will not have their exams marked this summer as a result of a boycott by university lecturers, the first independent survey on the impact of the dispute has revealed.
The study, by the graduate recruitment service Milkround, showed two out of three students indicated that their papers would not be marked while the row continues.
If mirrored across the country, it would leave about 230,000 students without final degree marks, leaving many unable to graduate or with difficulties pursuing the jobs they want.
The survey came as talks at Acas, the conciliation and arbitration service, between the university employers and unions broke up in acrimony yesterday without agreement. Both sides acknowledge the dispute needs to be settled by next week for any damage to students to be repaired.
The study of 715 students from universities around the UK showed exams for 65 per cent of them were not being marked.
One per cent said all their exams had been cancelled, while 4 per cent (about 14,000 nationally) had some cancelled. Less than one in three was unaffected.
Asked about the impact of the dispute on their future, 17 per cent of those affected said they would be given a degree pass based on their work during the first two years of their course.
Nearly eight out of 10 said they would get their qualification when the dispute was settled, possibly in September. Six per cent said they would sit their exams once the dispute was over, and then receive their degrees. More than half admitted to being worried that the dispute could put them at a disadvantage in the hunt for jobs.
The University of Birmingham, which believes it has recruited enough extra markers to cover for most lecturers taking industrial action, is among several universities that have told students affected it will give them a pass based on their prior work.
This will be reassessed when the dispute is over and the exam papers marked but, while those who achieve better-than-expected marks will be upgraded, no one will be marked down.
Some employers have queried whether such a move would cheapen the quality of the degrees.
The survey also shows many lecturers are not following the more militant line adopted by the Association of University Teachers in refusing to set exams. Instead, they are backing the approach by NATFHE, the university and college lecturers' union, which has instructed its members not to mark the exams.
Only 13 per cent of those surveyed backed the lecturers' action, with 46 per cent expressing sympathy but saying they should not have targeted exams. A little more than one in 10opposed the action, saying they were adequately paid. The blame for the situation was split between the universities and lecturers.
Meanwhile, the employers' side is reconvening a meeting with all seven unions representing staff early next week, saying "a deal satisfactory to all parties is within reach".
However, the 67,000-strong NATFHE, whose membership is strongest in the new universities, said it was "shocked" by the fact that no new pay offer had been tabled in the intensive discussions at Acas lasting into yesterday morning.
Roger Kline, head of the union's universities department, said: "We are astonished the employers have failed to make a final offer despite no prior indication they would fail to do so.
"This is irresponsible and incompetent and most importantly it prolongs the difficulties for students.
"At a time when both unions had meetings prepared to consider an offer, a final offer could have triggered ballots if union reps felt this was worth consulting on. This delay will harden attitudes and ensure the industrial action continues."
The last offer tabled by employers was worth 12.6 per cent over three years, but the unions refused to put it out to ballot. They are seeking 23 per cent.
Is the action justified?
Gaston Dollem President, Bristol University Students' Union
"I condemn strongly the actions of the lecturers because it is making the students hostages in a situation they cannot control. It is one thing to want to improve your career. It is a different thing to destroying other people's lives because you want to improve your standard of living."
Elsa McCarrick, European Studies student, Edinburgh
"We were supposed to get our marks from the French department on 2 June but now that's postponed indefinitely. It is difficult for me because I need to know whether I've got my 2.1 degree. Overall, though, I support the action. I put most of the blame on the universities. They're getting extra money from top-up fees."
Francisca Mayorga, French and Business Student, Edinburgh
"One of my exams was cancelled - and we were told we could put our books away. Then it was rescheduled. It is a shame that we're getting mucked about. Students here are divided but I completely support the lecturers. This is the only way they're going to get heard. I don't feel they're going to jeopardise my future."
Simon Parker, Senior Politics Lecturer, York University
"We haven't had any colleagues saying 'Call off the action' and ours is not a terribly militant university. The membership is 100 per cent behind the action. Some people said the union should have put the offer of 12.6 per cent over three years out to ballot but I'm sure the membership would have rejected it."
Gavin Reid, Senior Chemistry Lecturer, Leeds University
"There is no doubt that, without the stance we've taken on not setting or marking examinations, we wouldn't be where we are today. It is that that has concentrated the minds of the universities. There has been some hostility from the students' union to the action but I think the students understand what we're doing."
Nick James, Librarian, Leicester University
"We are involved in the dispute refusing to cover for absent lecturing staff and not doing any assessments. The action really is the only option open to us. I know there are many students who feel there are different ways that we could pursue this but this is the only time we've got to draw attention to our pay."
