I WRITE with regard to the story headlined "MP calls for more students" (Bury Times, Jan 29) and to express my disappointment - one could almost say dismay - at Mr Chaytor's obvious enthusiasm for heavily subsidised further education at universities and colleges.

I believe his eagerness is misplaced. Quality is what is required in higher education, not quantity (100,000 extra places?).

As a pensioner I have the advantage over Mr Chaytor of having a longer-term view, having been a schoolboy prior to the 1939-45 war. It is also interesting to mention that I am writing this letter on Education Sunday and the sermon noted the importance of passing knowledge down through the generations.

My school, attended in the 1930s, was Chesham. I have reports from that period which show that teachers taught 12 subjects and, it is important to note, there were 38 children in the classes. Chesham, and others in the town, had impressive academic and sporting records, due to the high standards and dedication of the teachers.

Today's senior citizens will readily confirm that, although most left school at 14, they possessed a thorough knowledge of the 3Rs (including mental arithmetic), something which many later generations would be unable to claim. Incidentally, both my father and mother were competent in this respect, even though their full-time education ended at 12.

It is my belief that the steady decline in education standards has been due to the inability of some - not all - teachers to pass on to children the basics, and it is on this that, finally, all knowledge depends. The laying of firm foundations is most important.

Resources are never infinite so let us use the money to improve teacher-training, pupil examinations at junior school, and their working environment instead of wasting it on more university students. We need fewer students and of a higher quality.

I left Bury High School at 16 - the income was needed - and I believe that the sooner one enters a working environment, or specialised training, the better. Time spent at universities will, for many, result in inappropriate degrees and wasted years.

DEREK RYDER,

Ainsworth Road,

Bury.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.