[Mary]

<font color='#F52887'>As a student, i have to say i think many universities (predominantly the old polys), which are providing degrees in &quot;surfing&quot; and &quot;cultural studies&quot; should be closed down. Why old Tony feels 50% of school leavers should do a degree I don't understand, many of these are worth very little and a degree certainly is not worth as much today. There is not enough skilled labour in the country today as Howard says, and this certainly isn't the way to remedy it.

The amount of funding that goes to keeping these institutes and their students is farcical and would be much better directed at a smaller number of universities and courses. If this were the case would we need to raise top up fees to £3000 a year? Personally if I had to pay fees of £15000 before any living costs (and few holidays to earn money), it is very likely I (and many of my peers,) would have to think twice about studying medicine. (incidently, this country need doctors, at the moment we are working illegal hours as there are not enough doctors to go round nationally, why we have to pay fees and physio's get paid to train is beyond me).