Oxford grad loses suit against varsity for poor teaching
A former Oxford University student, believed to be of Indianorigin, has lost his claim of million pounds in damages from the prestigious institution for its alleged poor teaching in his specialist Indian subject.
Faiz Siddiqui had sued the varsity in last November, 17 years after he graduated, claiming that he received “inadequate” teaching on his specialist course on Indian imperial history, which led to him getting a 2: 1 back in 2000 and compromised his earnings in the job market as a highflying lawyer.
But a judge dismissed the case this week, saying the 39- year- old may have “simply coasted” during his course and offered him “sympathy and understanding”.
“It is to be hoped that he can re- focus, perhaps lower his expectations at least for the time being and start using his undoubted intelligence to create a worthwhile future for himself,” Justice Foskett said in his ruling.
Lawyers for Siddiqui, who studied modern history at Brasenose College, had argued that the secondclass degree meant a loss of earnings in his future career as a lawyer.
They had also claimed that missing out on a firstclass degree had led to a rejection from the Harvard Law School and affected his mental health and career.
While the judge accepted the claimant had suffered severe depression, he felt it could not be attributed to his degree result.
He also found there were other reasons beyond his bouts of depression to explain his failure to hold down various jobs he had with leading legal and accountancy firms in the UK.
In one case, his employers had complained of “poor behaviour, rudeness and lack of IT skills”.
“There is nothing at any point to suggest that what is said to have been his preoccupation with his Oxford degree result played any part in these false starts,” the judge noted.