Students sue college for 500,000

FOUR computer students are suing their college for up to 500,000 damages after complaining that poor teaching ruined their career prospects.

The group of former South Thames College post graduates claim their lives were set back by three years, with annual loss of earnings of around 25,000, because they were forced to ditch their studies when it was discovered A-level questions had been set in degree exam papers.

They allege the course, which they attended from 1994 to 1997, was plagued with a catalogue of problems including lecturers not turning up, failure to cover the full syllabus, failure to act on student and lecturers' complaints and failure to take disciplinary action when necessary.

Former student Fiona Smith, 28, from Acton, said: "This has knocked me back years and I have yet to complete my studies. We took out student loans and ran up debts of about 10,000, but have nothing to show for in the end."

Fellow student Charles Sampoh, of Hammersmith, claimed he suffered depression as a result of the problems he experienced while on the course, run from the Tooting centre.

South Thames College, which has since revamped its computer course, will dispute the compensation claims when the case goes before Wandsworth County Court next month.

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