Complaint: 90125- ICT: Bachelor of Education Honours
We, the undersigned Honours students registered for the module HREDU7E (ICT Studies Honours), hereby submit this formal petition to raise serious academic concerns regarding the delivery, assessment, and academic support provided in this module.
We formally write this email to raise a complaint regarding the assessment standard and marking criteria of our HREDU82-7E module lecturer.
In 2025 academic year, we were given assignments whose scope, complexity and expected depth align with Master’s degree level and not Honour level. Although we fully support the importance of academic rigorous and appropriate benchmarking of assessments by our lecturer, this should remain at an appropriate level of Honours and as per the approved module outcomes.
However, this has not been reflected in practice. The majority of us students have been awarded repeated failing marks, irrespective of evident effort and compliance with integrity standards. Our assignment marks are always low and not supported by actionable or constructive feedback that should assist us to improve performance.
When we compare with other streams and cognate modules within our honours qualification, there are inconsistencies in assessment expectations and marking practices. Our concerns regarding this matter have been raised to the lecturer, supported by comparative evidence of other streams. Unfortunately our efforts have failed as assessment engagements remain unchanged. This has negatively affected our academic performance and on a personal level.
It is unreasonable to place an entire class at a risk of failure due to assessment practices that exceed the approved level and scope of qualification.
We therefore formally request the initiation of department to intervene and investigate the following in urgency, If:
1. The alignment of assessment design in relation to Honours level outcomes
2. The marking practice if they are fair and consistent across the cohort
3. The feedback is actionable and constructive to students
4. The assessment standards are the same across different streams in this qualification.
This complaint is submitted in good standing to ensure fairness and accountability in assessment practices. Our goal is to complete our Honours qualification under conditions that are transparent , equitable and of high standard. We trust that the urgency of the matter will be addressed and given appropriate attention
Intervention and Scope of Issues
1. Lack of Academic Guidance and Support
The lecturer responsible for HREDU7E has consistently failed to provide adequate academic guidance throughout the module. This includes:
Minimal to no clarification on assignment expectations
No meaningful academic support for portfolio work
Limited engagement with students’ academic queries
Absence of constructive feedback that supports learning and improvement
As an Honours-level module, structured guidance, academic scaffolding, and mentorship are essential. Unfortunately, these have been largely absent.
2. Unreasonable and Disproportionate Assessment Standards
The assessment criteria and expectations applied in this module are disproportionately pitched at a Master’s level, despite this being an Honours module. This is evident in:
Excessively complex assessment requirements
Marking standards that do not align with Honours-level outcomes
Penalisation without clear justification or developmental feedback
These expectations are applied without corresponding academic support, placing students at an unfair disadvantage.
3. Widespread Academic Failure
A significant concern is that most students in the module are failing, which strongly suggests a systemic issue rather than individual underperformance. Such a pattern indicates:
Misalignment between teaching, learning outcomes, and assessment
Ineffective instructional and support practices
Potentially unfair or inconsistent marking practices
This situation has caused severe academic distress and anxiety among students.
4. Unfair Marking and Lack of Transparency
Students have experienced marking that appears inconsistent and lacks transparency. Feedback provided does not adequately justify marks awarded nor guide academic improvement. As a result, students are unable to learn from assessments or correct mistakes.
- In light of the above, we respectfully but firmly request the following:
Immediate removal of the current lecturer OUPA ELIAS MASHILE from further involvement in the delivery and assessment of module HREDU82-7E ICT Honors - Independent second marking or moderation of all assignments and portfolio work submitted thus far
- A formal investigation into the assessment design, marking standards, and academic support provided in this module
- Appropriate corrective academic measures to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with UNISA Honours standards
ALL ICT Module code: HREDU82-7E STUDENTS Contact the author of the petition