A GROUP of faculty members from the University of the East defended the grant of “exceptional grades” to some students, saying they deserve it for their perseverance, hard work, and determination.

The UE Faculty Association issued the remark after university president Esther Garcia said that giving a grade of 1.0 to numerous students is “statistically improbable.”

It decried Garcia’s claim that the professors admitted that they were at fault as reported by the school’s paper.

“Pres. Garcia should not make a sweeping statement that students who obtained 1.0 is out of compassion. Contrary to the statement of the President, it is not statistically improbable that in a certain class there will be more than 50% getting an excellent grade of 1.0,” UEFA said in statement.

“Dr. Garcia as a former professor knows by hear that grades were based on a careful and meticulous assessment and computation of the results of students’ activities. We evaluate the learners based on their knowledge and competencies, and not by their environment, history, behavior or situation,” it added.

The teachers’ group stressed that whatever the ratings the learners got “were the grades they deserved.”

UEFA also pointed out that it is possible for students to get an excellent grade as the pandemic could have motivated them to study hard.

“Most notably, the current Covid19 pandemic made them realized the importance of education and motivated them to attain scholarships to ease the financial burden of their parents in the payment of their tuition and miscellaneous fees,” it said.

“The UEFA would like to emphasize that in general the grades given by the faculty members to the students were based on the merit and outcomes of their performance in their respective courses and not by sympathy for the situation. This is what our students deserve. No less,” it added.