Excellent Estonia

David Stevenson( Letters ,1 June) rightly praises Estonia fordoing better than S cotland in its Pisa maths score, but impliesthat in dependence has something to to with it. Not so. Estonia had a degree of devolution in the 19th century when it was part of the Tsarist empire. Its rulers made the University of Tar tu a world leader in subjects including psychiatry, surgery, bot any, and chemistry. It has built on this pioneering tradition to be where it is today.

The big question is why have we lost our way. The lack of money is a poor excuse. Scotland can spend its generous Barnett formula allocation any way it likes.

HUGH PENNINGTON Carlton Place, Aberdeen