Letter: Wealth of learning

Anthony Potts
Friday 29 January 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Jane Sutcliffe (letter, 25 January) says she was never afforded the opportunity to attend Oxford. This is strange, as the opportunity is offered to all, without regard to social background or parental wealth. All it requires is ability.

At least, that was the case up until now. From this year, under the system Ms Sutcliffe supports, it is also necessary to find several thousand pounds to pay for the privilege of being educated. People from backgrounds like mine, whose families are not wealthy, and who have been brought up with a view that debt is best avoided, will now be discriminated against, favouring the wealthy over the able.

This is not the principle upon which most people want to see university education allocated, and it is to the detriment of society. It benefits us all to see the most able pushed to the limits of their ability at institutions like Oxford.

ANTHONY POTTS

London E14

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in