Letter: Student fees: nation must foot the bill
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: It is misleading for Mark Tweedale and others (letter, 19 July) to suggest that Britain's higher education system is somehow less accessible than those of France and Germany. Only a small minority of those registered as students in those two countries actually graduate with a university award. The completion rates in Spain and Italy are even lower.
The universities of our major European partners recruit vast cohorts of school-leavers and then eliminate most of them through an unforgiving selection procedure in subsequent years. British universities enable all those who apply themselves to their studies to graduate within the three or four years allocated for undergraduate courses.
Rather than emulate our continental neighbours, whose universities offer entry to all but prizes to few, we must ensure that our students continue to benefit from a supportive learning environment at every stage of study. If all those who enter university can count on fulfilling study and look forward to graduating with a qualification of value, then they should not balk at a share in the financial investment that this will necessitate.
PAUL TAYLOR
The University of Greenwich
Woolwich Campus
London SE18
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments