Students betrayed

SIR – Juliet Samuel (Comment, February 26) is correct in writing about universities charging thousands of pounds for useless degrees.

It was 17 years ago that Tony Blair told an audience at the University of Southampton: “We believe there is no greater ambition for Britain than to see a steadily rising proportion gain the huge benefits of a university education as school standards rise, meeting our goal of 50 per cent of young adults progressing to higher education by 2010. An ambitious goal because we are ambitious for Britain.”

Ambition is not measured by a university degree. As degrees become less of a requirement for some major organisations – Penguin Random House, Ernst & Young and PWC – and the number of apprenticeships is decreasing, the Labour Party should stand up and take responsibility for failing so many students.

Thousands believed that a degree, whatever the subject, was the only way to make their mark in the world. They have been hideously betrayed. Jane Singer

London NW3