University challenge

DOMINIC LAWSON is to be congratulated for not recycling the mandatory sneer at media studies and former polytechnics (Mail). However, he does criticise Tony Blair’s hope that half of school leavers attend university.

There may be much to criticise Mr Blair about, but bringing us up to our more successful competitors, like the U.S., where 60 per cent study for a degree, is not among them.

I would ask those who urge other people’s children not to go to university what they want for their own children.

Then I would ask them to describe the syllabuses, reading lists, learning, teaching and assessment methods of the degree courses they sniff at. Mind you, if university vice-chancellors were to stick up for their graduates, students and teachers when their charges are demeaned, they might become worthy of their pay. PROF CHRIS BARTON,

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.