Why truancy, 'sex for marks' plague UB

The deputy vice chancellor for academic affairs, Professor Frank Youngman, suspects that the students are forgetting their core business. Some students boycotted classes over allowances last week. Youngman guessed at the reasons for neglect of academic work. "They may include the nature of preparation in the school system. The reasons may also include a lack of commitment on the part of some students. UB has just commenced a research project to investigate the reasons for non-attendance in classes," he said.

He also indicated that the reasons might include lack of familiarity with university teaching methods. He explained that UB has introduced a new 'learning and teaching policy' to encourage student centred teaching that will help to produce more self-motivated learners.