Madam, – Can I ask your paper and your journalists to take it easy on pressuring the universities to “do something” about student drop-out rates, particularly for courses in science and technology (Front page, August 10th)?
In fact we are already doing all that we can in terms of remedial courses, extra tutorials, hand-holding, etc.
Realistically we have only one weapon left in our armoury to reduce drop-out rates, and that is to start “dumbing down” ourselves. And given that industry is already starting to grumble about the quality of science graduates, you don’t really want us to do that.
The problem lies elsewhere. In particular, I suggest that you start by investigating why the points system is delivering to us so many poorly educated and poorly motivated students.
– Yours, etc,