Investing in education

Polly Toynbee's excellent article on New Labour's education policies (November 26) highlights why she has so rightly been named Political Journalist of the Year. That the government spends only £1,800 a child on the under-fives and £3,200 on each primary child, while a university student costs £5,300 contradicts the pledge to education, education, education.

A high proportion of primary children can't read and until they can, they need a great deal of individual help. If they do not get this, they will always be playing catch-up. University students do not need the level of teaching necessary for the very young. Of course we need good universities and able students, but the best way to do this is to ensure we are building on sound foundations. When you build a house you don't start with the roof.
Barry Martin
Chipping Norton, Oxon

Statistics reveal that African-British pupils are consistently academically above average when they enter the education system at five. The problem of their subsequent poor results is clearly not one of more pre-school education, but one of reforming a system based on a flawed curriculum. It fails and our pupils disengage with education. Are we to believe racism no longer exists and all British nationals have equal opportunity and rights to good jobs, quality healthcare and effective education? With top-up fees on the way and a parliament dominated by those who have been the privileged recipients of an elitist private education, I don't think so.
Toyin Agbetu
London


Polly Toynbee's figures on life-time graduate earnings are averages concealing wide variations and reflect a time when there were few graduates, mainly people from relatively privileged back- grounds. The typical social science student I teach is a local, working-class, mature, ethnic minority woman - often a parent. After graduation, she will not become a fat cat. Typically, by her mid-30s, she will be working as a professional in the public or voluntary sectors. She will be earning enough to trigger repayments of fees etc, but not enough to afford a mortgage in London, where she has to stay because of family commitments.

She overcame considerable obstacles to reach university and more (juggling study, parenting and work) to complete her degree. The last thing she needs is a lifetime of debt - even if this is offset by a bursary that my underfunded university cannot afford.
Richard Kirkwood
London Metropolitan University