EVIDENCE OF GRADE INFLATION: CAUSES, EFFECTS, AND SOLUTIONS AT HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL

Abstract

Grades are used as a standard and signaling mechanism to reflect students’ learning outcomes in academic 
institutions throughout the world. Grades have also assumed a significant position in mirroring the students’ 
achievement while employing or admitting them for higher education. However, recent research in the educational 
system has exposed a widespread phenomenon grade inflation that puts a direct strain on the credibility and 
accountability of academia’s standards of excellence and their graduates. The main purpose of this study is to 
identify and investigate the understanding of University teachers and administrators about the situation of inflation 
and its effects on students and to find some solutions and measures to solve or at least reduce this problem. A survey 
research design was adopted to achieve the purpose of this study. Data were collected through a quantitative data 
collection process supported by a qualitative data collection process (open source). The survey questionnaire 
consists of three parts; the first is about identifying the factors/causes of inflation of grades, the second explores the 
effects of inflation of grades, and the last one includes solutions to reduce the level of inflation of grades. To achieve 
this goal, data is collected and analyzed using a variety of methods (quantitative technique supported by qualitative 
data analysis techniques). We deliberately invited all university teachers and administrators to participate in a fourpart survey via email, resulting in 278 answers from the respondents through email. The responses collected were 
measured by descriptive and thematic techniques of analysis. The consequences of the research study specified that 
prevalent grade inflation is present at the higher education level due to issues ranging from visiting faculty and 
assessments by students. Reduced learners’ efforts, ineffectual graduates of the university, difficulties for associates 
and justification for employment were identified as major consequences of grade inflation as a result of the study. 
The findings of the study also suggested that there is a need to adopt these potential solutions i.e., consistent 
monitoring of the institution, ranking standards should be increased, exterior grading mechanism, regular drill on 
assessment, evaluation policy should be clear, suitable organizational actions and criteria of assessment and 
teaching methods to abate grade inflation