Camden New Journal - Letters: Fear over university

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:9 August 2007

Fear over university qualification

• YOUR letters pages rightly express the wide concern about the preferential treatment given to University College London for the new Camden academy. Most would see such preferences as highly inappropriate in these days of open government and transparency.
Clearly the Greens, Labour and even some concerned Tories are asking that more options be considered, including the Church of England and any other body with a strong history in secondary education. Small wonder that many wish to kick-down closed doors. Nor should the council’s executive feel obliged to rubber-stamp a scheme, originated by senior officials many months before the formation of the fledgling coalition. Nor is the claim of virginal caution (Letter, August 2) ever convincing. Many innocent virgins are naïve, frequently get pregnant and regret for years their early decisions and mistakes.
To all this may I add my own fears? Having dealt with eight universities (including UCL) over the past 30 years, I have found them weak in management, seldom cost-effective and never efficient. Nor should occasional academic brilliance be confused with skills in promoting secondary education. Academia is notorious for its self-interested agendas, ivory towers, myopia, yet some good souls. All there would understand the financial potential of a scheme with a £30 million starter. Beware all good citizens.
F JENKINS
Constantine Road, NW3

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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