WE learn that more and more students are unable to find suitable employment after graduation. At the same time employers report a difficulty in filling vacancies as a result of the lack of required skills. To me this indicates that we have far too many universities offering degrees which are of little use in the employment field.

Tuition fees and students’ grants should be re-examined and much more emphasis put on those degrees which employers are seeking. Subjects such as engineering, medicine, chemistry and languages come to mind.

The entire education system is badly in need of an overhaul. There is a need to reintroduce grammar schools. These were first attacked by a Labour minister Anthony Crosland when in a rant he said that he would destroy them all.

It is claimed that grammar schools are selective but I see nothing wrong with that. Life on the whole is very selective and to pretend otherwise is pure hypocrisy. Grammar schools gave an opportunity to children in poorer families, myself included, to take a few steps up the ladder of life.

Of course not all youngsters are suitable or even desire an academic career so more should be done to encourage the teaching of skills which are always required like builders, plumbers, carpenters and motor mechanics. Subjects such as media studies and sociology are of course very popular but offer few opportunities in the field of employment.

We should forget party dogma and the talk of elitism and concentrate at all levels on an education system which will in the end provide work for all and is of benefit to the British economy.

R W SELWAY Burden Close Stratton St Margaret Swindon