Letter: Dangerous implications of the Dearing report

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