Letter: Access for all

I READ the report on the New College of the Humanities planned for London (6 June) with a rather jaundiced eye. Scotland has had a "College of the Humanities" since 1999, when Glasgow University's Dumfries campus was opened.

With its emphasis on the liberal arts, students at the Dumfries campus have, in Professor AC Grayling's words, been "challenged to develop as skilled, informed and reflective thinkers" and have received an education to match those aspirations.

In January 2007, the Dumfries campus was threatened with closure.

Thanks to a strong community campaign and additional funding provided by the new SNP government, the threat was lifted in August 2007.

This year the threat has returned. It seems likely that on 22 June the Court of Glasgow University will decide to end liberal arts courses (philosophy, history and literature) in Dumfries.

Responding to the challenge posed by the 18,000-a-year New College of the Humanities, the Scottish Government states that access to education should be based on "the ability to learn rather than the ability to pay".

If that is so, then rather than permit the closure of the "college of the humanities" in Dumfries, the Scottish Government should insist on its development and expansion as an accessible alternative.

Alistair Livingston

Merrick Road

Castle Douglas