Letter: Model students

Fiona MacLeod's incisive article on the refusal of schools, and in particlar universities, to engage with the Scottish Baccalaureate initiative (7 September) begs a direct question.

If education is a fully devolved area, surely the Scottish Parliament can simply tell Scottish schools and universities to do what they are damned well told, teach the baccalaureate, and recognise it as a university qualification?

In fact, why not go one step further and instruct the universities to prioritise entry of pupils who hold it? A couple of rocky years would follow, but would be well worth the trouble.

I fear that universities, and increasingly schools, are moving closer in concept now to private businesses than institutions of learning. They should be brought back into line, and made to serve the interests of the people as defined by the people's elected representatives - not the interests of the people as dictated by the educational establishment itself, or failed business leaders.

We must never stop reminding ourselves that it is the private sector model which has taken our country to the brink of bankruptcy; if our education establishments insist on adopting business models disaster will surely follow.

David Fiddimore

Calton Road

Edinburgh