Letter: Realistic education

Students should be encouraged - I agree. But this is not the whole story. Your correspondent, T Brotherstone (Letters, 8 November), is correct when he says the quality of a university is largely down to the quality of its staff. This is true of most institutions and businesses.

Direction and drive must come from the top and those who sit there must make the decisions, and also, when required, take the blame.

The nation cannot afford to let universities be run to turn out mediocre graduates in useless subjects. It is an industry the same as others, where to survive, the end product has to be sellable and useful. Society should not be asked to pay for goods that produce no long-term benefit to the country. We do not need, nor can we afford, to permit everyone who aspires to attend university to do so. Those who obtain a place must repay the privilege and competition for places will ensure that the best flourish.

Entry should be open to all who merit the opportunity. Having everyone attend university who wishes to do so would be a downgrading of the system and a waste of resources.

IAN ROSS

Eden Lane

Edinburgh