By Beatrice Groth

The students of the University of East London (UEL) are on constant check through the little plastic student’s identity card, produced to electronically monitor the attendance and movement of students within the university’s premises, in all its Campuses.

According to many module guides, ’the university requires – a minimum 75% of all class sessions throughout the semester – this requirement enables the university to fulfil the regulations of the HESA, the Home Office and SLC/LEA.’

The British government, UK Students Finance Company, and other financial institutions of the United Kingdom and Europe are no doubt investing lots of money into the lives of students, aiming for productive and progressive oriented society. Utilizing the potentials of this good gesture will definitely do the students, the governments and the society in general, lots of good.

Attendance policy, demands that students must swipe their cards, 15 minutes before or after the stipulated time of lectures, seminars and workshops. Those who do not comply are marked absent, and if students miss three sessions in a row without a justifiable reason such as ill health they would be withdrawn from the course. Despite these strict attendance policies, some students still come to class late and feeling cool about their habit.

What about the students, who seem to be totally absent, but have their friends swipe cards for them? How are they checked and how do they cope with catching up with lectures and the other module content? Knowing that withdrawal becomes automatic even when there is evidence of valid absence, students ought to develop a sense of commitment to achieving success in their endeavours.

However, it is expected that all university students are matured enough to know why they enrolled for further education, and if it is to enhance a better life’s style, and ability to manage one’s future positively, then, it becomes a matter of choice. Hence students need to be more responsible for their academic excellence, to avoid derailment in their plans for better life.

 The adage that says, “show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are” is probably one of the reasons some students lag behind, and don’t keep to the rules. That is not to say that everyone is the same. There is however a majority of students who are dedicated to their studies, and they strive to keep to the rules of the institute.

UEL is equipped with determined and well-qualified lecturers and staffs, who collectively produce highly qualified students yearly, with educational excellence in various disciplines and for various careers in the business world. Inability of some students to benefit from this opportunity is regrettable and unfortunate.

In conclusion, UEL’s attendance policy should be seen in a good light, as a tool for encouragement. Determination is the key to success, and the UEL identity card, should be seen as the instrument which starts the engine of success.