Letter: Dangerous implications of the Dearing report

Phil Trory
Friday 25 July 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Sir: Your leader ("Dearing: so much paper, so little inspiration", 24 July) describes a three-tier model of higher education, as if it were something imported from the US. Surely this is exactly what we had in this country, before the previous government turned all the polytechnics into universities.

Sir Ron Dearing was left with the unenviable task of funding this hungry sector, without any honest means of raising the money. His solution, like the existing student loans scheme, is a con trick, the equivalent of the Chancellor proposing to increase income tax in 10 years' time to pay for current expenditure. That would be laughed out of the House of Commons, as should this proposal to fund education out of the future income of its beneficiaries.

It is the duty of each generation, collectively, to educate its children. To abdicate that responsibility, as we are doing, is tragically mean, selfish and short-sighted.

PHIL TRORY

Alcester, Warwickshire

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