What has our educational system come to?

Why is our education system failing us?

Back in the day, education was a very strict thing, which pushed you hard and made sure you didnt mis-behave. Where is that now?

Since I left primary school, I have been failed by the educational system . High school was ok, but the level of education wasn't really up to scratch with other schools. But, the times I had there were amazing, I met some fantastic people there, and continued good friendships from primary school there (one of them is following me on here now :P).

Sixth Form was a complete joke. I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but when it comes to computers, I'm fairly knowledgeable. Enough to get me through A level. However, I managed to fail with a U, also got a U in Physics and Biology. The only lesson i got a mark in was General Studies! A lesson that I got kicked out of because I wanted to speak about beer rather than the industrial revolution. I also used it as good time to play MGS Portable + on PSP...

After these terrible marks at the end of the first year, I went to college to study ICT at BTEC Level 3. This was ok, but it ended up with one of the teachers being forced to resign due to his incompetence to teach people on our level.

After passing that course with D,M,M, It was time to progress into university. At this time I was split between HND at Stafford Uni through the college campus I was at, or Cardiff university (possibly Glamorgan). I was talked out of moving my my college tutors, saying that I would be able to sink my teeth into the HND course, and that I will struggle with it. My My, wasn't I taken as a fool!

My problem is this; I cannot work when the load is too easy. If an assignment is too easy, I cant focus, I cant put my heart and soul into it like I would if it was challenging. I began making assignments harder just so I would do them, Leave them till last minute, do it the hard way instead etc.

The HND course is EASIER than the BTEC course. Lectures involve me sat in a room for2 hours playing either GTA on my iTouch, or Diablo on my netbook. This, ok, may seem a bit bad, but when one of the subjects is PRIMARY SCHOOL ADDITION(including "carry the 1") I think im allowed to distract myself.

I have expressed my concern a couple of times now, only the last time actually has had some effect. Todays lecture involved an seemingly senile old man talk at us like we were just some pre-evolved matter that hadn't quite developed a brain yet. To some of us, the lecture was easy as it is subjects we have covered in the past (logic gates), but to some its all new.

One student asked the lecturer to go over one part again and to draw it out on the board as he was unfamiliar with the subject. Which, in my eyes, is fair enough. In the lecturers eyes though, it was pointless. His response to this,as a professional was:
"There is no point, it is easy, there are notes on blackboard, and I'd rather not go through it and draw it out"

Now, I would understand if we were running out of time, but he managed to get 2 hours of lectures into 45 minutes, leaving an hour and 15 minutes spare. His pure laziness and inability to teach is at fault here, and it has caused quite an uproar. The other main point that is causing uproar is that WE ARE FUCKING PAYING FOR THIS COURSE! AT LEAST TEACH US PROPERLY!

Now, by this point I had already complained to three people about this, one being my tutor, one being another teacher and one being the course co-ordinator for our campus They know how I felt before this incident. But after that I was livid. No student should be shot down like that for their own incompetence as a teacher.
(Side note - This is the same teacher who is actually working things out during the lecture because he doesn't know the subject properly himself.  He also has little quotes like "This is the way i know it, it probably wont work for you so use your own". Marvellous but this is things we don't know about fancy teaching us for a change?)

So now its come down to this - I am ready to move universities, I have an appointment booked with careers to help me find the right course to move to. I also have a meeting booked with the big three leaders of the course to express how bad the course is, as they dont seem to have a clue. More and more of the group are starting to think about leaving the course. People dont want to come in any more, people arn't turning up to lectures or tutorials because the content and teaching is awful.
(That being said, there are a few brilliant lecturers, 3 know how I feel about all this, thats how good they are, I can trust them even with all of this bullshit going on).

Just feels like a massive failure this year. Hopfully there is light at the end of this tunnel, but I am desperate now to escape this trap.

Thanks for the lies, false promises and lack of competence Lichfield&Stafford, Thanks a fucking bunch.


If you have had a bad experience with education, please share it in the comments section. I would love to see how it is failing others than myself. Also, any HND students in my group who read this, feel free to post a comment on what you want saying at the meeting with the big 3 (not naming names on here like).

(Apologies for spelling, grammar etc in this post, my bloody "powerboard" wireless keyboard is messing up. Keeps just doing its own thing :/

Also, this entry may jump from one point to another and not flow very well. My mind is all over the place at the moment with worry and a bit of stress about all the above points. I find blogging a good way of getting my mind in order, by getting it out in a mess and re-reading it :P)