Close X
Monday, November 18, 2024
ADVT 
International

Oxford University To Face Indian-Origin Student's Trial Over 'Appallingly Bad' Teaching Allegations

IANS, 23 Jan, 2017 11:50 AM
    In a landmark ruling, the UK Supreme Court has ordered Oxford University to stand trial after an Indian-origin student filed a 1 million pound ($1,245,100) compensation claim saying "appalling bad and boring tuition" in the varsity resulted in him getting a second class degree, a newspaper here reported.
     
    Faiz Siddiqui, a modern history graduate, says he would have enjoyed a career as a top international commercial lawyer had he not been held back for obtaining a 2:1 grade when graduating in June 2000, reported the Daily Mail on Sunday.
     
    He later trained as a solicitor, but says his life and career have been blighted by his failure to obtain a first class degree while at the university's Brasenose College.
     
    The 38-year-old is suing Oxford University saying the tuition he received was "negligent", especially on a specialist subject course on Indian imperial history during his final year.
     
    The university then applied to the high court to strike out the claim branding it "hopelessly bad" and "time barred'.
     
    But in a newly-released 18-page judgement, Justice Brian Francis Kerr ruled that the university has a case to answer and that a trial should take "as soon as possible."
     
     
    And if Siddiqui's case is successful, it could pave the way for thousands of other students to launch similar claims about universities up and down the country, with many of them charging large amount of money in tuition fees.
     
    Professor Alan Smithers, education expert at Buckingham University said: "In the past, universities have been quite cavalier about the quality of their teaching. If Siddiqui wins, it will open the door to other students who do not think they got the degree they deserved because of issues about the teaching they received."
     
    At a previous hearing, the university admitted that it had "difficulties" teaching Asian history in the year Siddiqui graduated, because more than half of the faculty teaching staff were on sabbatical leave at the same time.
     
    Siddiqui said the standard of tuition he received suffered as a result of the "intolerable" pressure the "eminent historian" was under.
     
    As a result of which, Siddiqui said he "underachieved significantly", causing his overall course grade to bomb.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    New Zealand denies visas to Indian students

    New Zealand denies visas to Indian students
    New Zealand has denied visas to thousands of Indian students who wanted to study in the country, a media report said on Friday.

    New Zealand denies visas to Indian students

    Indian-Origin Businessman Tarsem Singh Gets Prison For $6 Million Contract Fraud

    Indian-Origin Businessman Tarsem Singh Gets Prison For $6 Million Contract Fraud
    Tarsem Singh was sentenced by Washington Federal Judge Reggie Walton, who also fined him $25,000 and ordered him to pay about $120,000 in restitution, officials said on Wednesday.

    Indian-Origin Businessman Tarsem Singh Gets Prison For $6 Million Contract Fraud

    Celebrated Pakistani Philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi Passes Away In Karachi

    Celebrated Pakistani Philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi Passes Away In Karachi
    Celebrated humanitarian and Edhi Foundation Chairman Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away at the age of 92 in Karachi on Friday night, it has been learnt.

    Celebrated Pakistani Philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi Passes Away In Karachi

    Indian-Origin Minister Priti Patel Backs Theresa May For British Prime Minister

    Indian-Origin Minister Priti Patel Backs Theresa May For British Prime Minister
    Patel's backing came as May emerged as the clear front-runner in the race to take over from Cameron, with over half of the Conservative party's 330 MPs voting in her favour in the first round of voting earlier this week.

    Indian-Origin Minister Priti Patel Backs Theresa May For British Prime Minister

    Vijay Mallya Says Life Must go on, in Public Appearance at British GP

    Vijay Mallya Says Life Must go on, in Public Appearance at British GP
    Vijay Mallya, who is currently wanted in India over loan default cases related to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, made a rare public appearance at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix practice session in Silverstone on Friday

    Vijay Mallya Says Life Must go on, in Public Appearance at British GP

    Modi Pays Tribute To Nelson Mandela

    Modi Pays Tribute To Nelson Mandela
    I am convinced that industry-to-industry ties not only can bring rich economic gains to our societies, they can give a new shape to our partnership, and drive it to new levels

    Modi Pays Tribute To Nelson Mandela