Assessment of the English remedial programme at a private university in Lebanon

Abstract

This study investigates whether remedial courses in a private university in Lebanon affect the enrolment decisions of pre-admission students. This study also investigates the effectiveness of the remedial English courses on subsequent English and academic performance. Findings revealed that a large number of remedial placements discouraged students from enrolling in the university. It was also found that remedial courses were not effective in providing better performance on general academic subjects. This study is significant because remedial programmes at universities in Lebanon and the Middle East have been rarely assessed in terms of goals and general academic objectives. With the open admission policies in the majority of private universities in Lebanon, the quality of discussion on the effect of remediation at universities in Lebanon and the Middle East is almost non-existent. This paper provides a benchmark for a forum of discussion and further study to the effectiveness of general and remedial programmes in the Middle East.