Watchdog to pursue essay-cheat websites

Further to Clishmaclaver’s recent post about pupil preparedness to attend university –

Click here for a timely BBC News article on the universities watchdog being asked to pursue websites advertising essay-writing services for students. Just how big an issue is this, when Universities Minister, Mr Johnson, says it could “undermine” the reputation of degrees from the UK?

Clishmaclaver has come across several related posts on Facebook: an opinion piece by The Guardian’s Poppy Noor, ‘Now a degree is a commodity, no wonder more students are cheating‘ and The Huffington Post’s, ‘Online ‘Essay Mills’ Face Government Crackdown As A Threat To The Reputation Of UK Degrees,’ to name but a couple.

These discussions centre around the HE sector but we must ask how likely it is FE colleges or indeed sixth form pupils are unaffected by this disturbing trend?

Clishmaclaver would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

So-called “essay mills”, which sell essays, coursework and exam answers to help students cheat their way to degrees and A-levels, could face criminalisation.

Laws to prosecute essay-writing firms will be among recommendations to be made this week in a report by the universities exams regulator.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) found the use of essay mills was “rife” among university students. Previous reports have found that sixth-form pupils also use such methods. – The Times

Art credit: © 2017 The Times