It is with a feeling of deep sadness that I write this letter to inform you on how Segi College is giving very poor service to its students. As a parent, I have forked out my life savings in the hope of giving my only child a good university education

The college collects such high fees but the quality of education is below par. In the American Degree Programme, Psychology is one area of specialisation (major) but none of the lecturers have a degree in psychology. How are they expected to train future psychologists; and what would be the quality of the 'so-called graduates' they produce?

To compound matters, the students are not interested in studying and discipline is very poor. Truancy is very high and the college takes no steps to arrest this. Students walk in and out of classes as they please, defy lecturers. Some even threaten lecturers but no action is taken against such students because the college is more interested in the fees.

The library is not well equipped and even the basic books recommended by the lecturers are not available in the library or the bookshop. How are the few students interested in studying to cope?

My daughter was a straight 'A' student, a very good and industrious student. For reasons I cannot fathom, she was not given a place at any public university. Like the many parents in the same unfortunate situation, I was forced to place her in a private college. She is following the American Degree Programme at Segi.

The horror stories I have heard from her finally came to a terrifying culmination last December when the Final Examination Schedule was changed without informing the students. My daughter received a frantic call from her classmate at 8.45 am on that day to inform her of the change. The Mathematics' paper was rescheduled and was to start at 9 am that day.

I rushed my daughter to the college. I went to American Degree Department to see the Head of Department but there was not a soul to be found in the office. Later, I was told by my daughter and her friends that the staff were hiding to avoid confrontation with students and parents!

I also went to the examination room where an argument was ensuing between the students and a woman who I later found out was the Head of the Examination Section. She was talking very rudely and shouting at the students, literally barking out instructions to the already anxious students. Such behaviour by a staff member of the college is totally unacceptable.

Many students missed the paper due to shocking behaviour of the college. However, these students were allowed to sit for the Mathematics paper a few days later. These students were given the same paper that my daughter sat for earlier. By then, these students knew all the questions and answers. This is totally unacceptable and unfair.

The normal procedure is for a new paper to be set for all the students. To pacify the students, the Head of Department informed my daughter and her friends that they would be given 'some bonus marks', that they should place a mark on their answer scripts and the examiners would be informed accordingly. Such incidents are mind-boggling. Why is the Ministry of Higher Education not investigating this unethical behaviour of this college?

I was also told by my daughter, which has been confirmed by her friends, that there have been cases of cheating during tests and the college has not taken any action the students concerned. These acts of cheating were carried out openly in full view of the whole class. There have been cases of students 'changing" their answers but allowed to go scot-free. Is this the sort of graduates we want loose in the workforce?

I refrained from writing to the press and authorities about this because my daughter was afraid she would be victimised. But I am now forced to write as the situation has not improved. The recent examinations which have just ended were just as badly conducted. There were instances of students cheating and students who were absent for most of the course being allowed to sit for the examination, which is against the rules.

It certainly is time the Ministry of Higher Education stepped in and put an end to the shocking 'goings-on' in this college. Strict and immediate action, such as a suspension of their licence, should be considered. Please do not play with our children's future.

Segi College replies