HIGHER EDUCATION TODAY - IN BRITAIN 2020
Some years ago, I wrote one of my 220 Articles about
Politics, Social and Cultural Affairs - IN BRITAIN TODAY.
The Article concentrated on The State of Primary Education Teaching. I interviewed many Teachers with many years of experienced. Here are just a few of my Observations....
Teachers were overworked so much that they had to continue to work at home into late hours ....Marking.
Teachers were becoming so depressed that many had decided to leave the Profession.
The Government Civil servants had imposed a mass of Report Writing.
Vertically everything the Teacher planned to do in class had to be written down. After class work, there were more Reports to be written.
Teachers were overwhelmed by Paperwork.
In many schools Management was poor.
There was a shortage of money to buy books and other essentials.
The Teachers were not shown respect.
Teachers had to be very careful not to touch pupils innocently
Or treat pupils badly.
Yes, Teachers were near cracking point.
Not much has changed 2020.
SO WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IN HIGHER EDUCATION ?
I am sorry to say, almost the same problems for Teaching Staffs in some of our Universities up and down the Country.
It has been well reported in the National Media that Universities had been strapped for cash.
Recently, I have been talking to some Senior Staff in some of our Universities. Before I give an analysis of my findings the Reader should know that I spent 30 years as Chief Executive in 3 Leading Companies and working as a Business Consultant for the Government, I have helped more than 1,000 Companies. In my leisure time I have been an Examiner for The Open University, Bucks New University and the Advertising Association. I have tasted the water of what Teaching and working in Higher Education is like.
I am very alarmed from the feedback I have received recently.
Here is a summary of some of the comments from Senior Lecturers.......
I am overloaded with marking exam papers, having to write detailed comments on every script. I have to work after midnight.
The University keeps piling on extra work as they get rid of staff to save money.
We are still getting high demand from Students but as demand goes up, the numbers of experienced staff goes down
The Management of the University is poor, over demanding and shows no respect for the teaching staff.
Experienced staff with years of experience are treated as dirt. Many are made redundant.
Students attack me verbally and physically...even at my own address. They sing loudly outside of my house late at night, bang on my door and window. They shout obscene words .The University acts very leniently towards these students. They should be given a written warning and if they repeat their frightening actions, they should be expelled from the University.
Senior staff and lecturers live in Fear of redundancy.
The University does not care. Saving money is the priority and not high teaching standards for students.
Students are not getting the education they deserve.
Teaching staff are getting depression and more and more are thinking of leaving the Profession.
Staff morale is low.
Motivation is even lower
Neglect and ill treatment from Management
The whole experience has left me traumatised and numb with emotional pain.
DOES THESE REMARKS SEEM FAMILIAR TO THE FEEDBACK FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ?
YOU BET IT DOES!!
Wellbeing In the Workplace is now a key Management function in the Corporate World. It has been proven to increase productivity and helps to retain a success environment in the Company. We need to practice Wellbeing in Education for the Lecturers and the Students.
So, whose fault is all this ?
Firstly, the Government. They ploughed £400 Billions into the Banks via Quantatative Easing QE. They need to plough more QE into Higher and Primary Education.
Secondly, Management in Universities and Primary Schools need to understand how to treat their Staff as human beings and not as fodder to get rid of to save money.
It is disgusting that many excellent Teachers / Lecturers are cast out after they have given many years of superb service and who have enhanced the reputation of the University though Conferences, Research, Books, Universities and Community Events.
Thirdly, University Management needs to prioritise if they are forced to reduce staff, For example, Health, Nursing, Sports and Physical fitness, Preventative Healthcare are priorities compared to Dance, Performing Arts, Media Studies.
Fourthly, Reduce the salaries of Vice Chancellors. Some earn £400,000 per annun plus a Gold standard Pension scheme. They are not worth this and it is a big drain of the Finances of the University.
UNIVERSITY ANNUAL ACCOUNTS
Many years ago, I studied at Harvard Business School in Boston USA. Our Lecturers made us study about 50 Financial Accounts of Leading Companies.
We were taught to examine the financial figures in depth and in particular the statements of the Chairman and Chief Executive.
We tried to drill down below the figures and to discuss what really was going on behind the figures.
We found that in many cases instead of a successful result on the surface there were big problems within the Organisation.
As a result of this experience, I believe that many Annual Accounts of Universities paint a glorious picture whilst below the surface, all was not well for the future.
The problems can be unearthed, for example, in the Human aspects of the Organisation. I mean Staff Turnover, Reasons for staff leaving, how the Management have treated their staff, where they have invested money in what disciplines,have they a Staff feedback system, do they practice Wellbeing and so on. They might be surprised what they will find.
In the Accounts of one University, they proudly declared that they had an 86% satisfaction rating from their students. Now that means that 14% were not satisfied. The University had 10,000 students which means that 1,400 students were not satisfied - not good enough for students paying £9,000 in annual fees plus living expenses.
There is no doubt that IN BRITAIN TODAY there are some very good Universities. However, there are some really bad ones.
The Media try to grade Universities such as The Times Newspaper and others. I am not sure their assessments illustrate, for example how they treat their staff, how many excellent teaching staff are made redundant each year.
The number of complaints which are received, Lecturer / Student numbers for example.
THE CHALLENGE
I am shocked that there are National Bodies that are issuing Certificates that say how good this or that University is Gold or Silver standard whilst at the same time they are shedding excellent, loyal and respected staff.
This must stop.
Who is going to review these problems ?
Who will listen to the Staff ?
All is not right in Higher Education from the perspective of the Teaching Staff and the Students.
IN BRITAIN TODAY.
PERSPECTIVE
The intention of this Article is to make University Management THINK about these issues.
If all is well that will be great. On the other hand, maybe they have to make changes.
I am not pointing the finger at any specific University. I am just trying to highlight what I have been told by some Lecturers and Teachers. I am their voice !!
RECOMMENDATION
I suggest that the Human Resources Manager in Universities should use this Aricle as a Check List.
Does our University experience some of there problems ?
If Yes we do .....perhaps they improve some of these issues and make the Universitty a better environment for their teaching staff and Students.
If the University can justify extra financial support from the Government and Sponsors, then they should launch a strong campaign to get those funds.
Raymond Williams MA MPhil MBA DIPM
EUREKYS
Music & Journalism
26 January 2020
28
