2 days ago
Time to overhaul a university system that has ceased to serve the country's needs
SIR – The post-school education system of the late 1960s and early 1970s was perfectly suited to the country's needs (' Universities 'putting bums on seats' as high A-level grades rise', report, August 15).
Universities were for academic excellence; polytechnics combined the technical and the academic; and technical colleges provided Higher National Diploma courses.
The system has since been degraded by the proliferation of universities, leading to many degrees becoming worthless. It needs to change.
To declare an interest, I was a polytechnic student in the early 1970s; attached to the poly was a technical college offering courses for trades such as plumbing and bricklaying. Some of the teachers there supplied the technical support for my estate management course.
Jonathan Youens
Bucharest, Romania
SIR – It is now in the interests of schools to encourage students to go to university, as that is effectively how their performance is assessed. Young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are given little advice on their options other than: 'Get a degree.' My son, who has just finished his degree, is fortunate to have worked part-time in another field during his studies. He now has a full-time job, unrelated to what he studied. He describes university as an expensive mistake.
Britain needs young people to work, to pay tax. That more are not encouraged to start doing this at 16 or 18, rather than several years later after incurring debts in excess of £50,000, is a scandal.
Mark Scrimshaw
Northwood, Middlesex
SIR – This year's A-level results have revealed shocking inequalities.
In London, more than 32 per cent were A or above, compared with only 22.9 per cent in the North East. Such disparities extend beyond education. Life expectancy, other health outcomes and transport infrastructure are also poorer in the North East and some other regions. When are these going to be addressed?
Dr Robert McKinty
Darlington, Co Durham
