Too few professionals

SIR – Professor Allan Ashworth (Letters, May 26) asks why we are not training enough nurses and teachers. He did not mention that Britain also has or is developing a shortage of doctors and of engineers.

I believe this is because we did away with grammar schools in favour of comprehensives, and converted our excellent polytechnic colleges into universities. We need pupils to be selected by aptitude and by attitude, not by wealth, and we need teachers to encourage their charges into professions with a great future.

It is shameful that we are robbing nations less wealthy than ourselves of their trained professionals. John Robinson

Southwell, Nottinghamshire

SIR – There are more than enough fully qualified nurses and teachers for the needs of the United Kingdom.

The problem is that a lot of them no longer work in their chosen professions. Until the causes of their alienation are thoroughly investigated and rectified, there will always appear to be a shortage of these vital people. Ian Mortimer

Torrox, Málaga, Spain