Sir - What price education? Arguably it is priceless and socially enriching.

It provides, keys to a host of careers as well as skills to tackle many challenges.

But the funding landscape changed in the 1990s initially with the scrapping of the maintenance grant. Then tuition fees arrived which have deterred many from humble backgrounds from reaching their potential and ensured a generation of graduates start their careers with a five figure debt that just a few years back would buy a small house.

The young are told not to worry as they have to earn quite a wage before they are required to make repayments. But isn't this just an example of mortgaging only the possibility of prosperity ? Who pays if the ex student does not reach the earnings threshold ?

A great many never will given the reality of the graduate saturated market. Once, poorer students were assured a basic income and the education was free to the student. Undergraduates could get on with their course without juggling it with jobs and racking up withering levels of debt.

The state invested in its citizens letting them commit without stress and worry. No financial disincentive thwarted aptitude or aspiration.

Now senior Tory William Hague claims they haven't ruled out increases in fees. Hopefully that won't happen. What times these are for the young ! .

Andrew Brown,

Worcester