Sir, – So, three colleges are to be fined for not reaching standards. Who pays? The taxpayer.
Who suffers? The students and teachers.
Who is responsible? The governing body which set standards and employ staff to achieve these standards. If their appointments are not “fit for purpose” (what a lovely euphemism) they should be replaced.
Who should pay? The governing body and the civil servants who appointed them.
Too often nowadays, we find that we are faced with taxes to pay for civil service incompetence (both national and local). Think only of our water charges – we are paying for the dereliction of duty by our councils since the 1899 (Local Government Act).
Surely, the time has come when these people should – and could – be made answerable for their errors. – Yours, etc,
CAL HYLAND
Rosscarbery,
West Cork.