@Enzyme
I see your point but I disagree.

I see most Arts degrees as hobbies and not something that should be funded by the taxpayers.

Take me for instance. I've a deep and abiding love for history and read everything I can get my hands on in the areas I'm most interested (Napoleonic Wars and European history of that era....). If I ever get rich enough to retire I'd love to go back to uni and do a History degree - but I'd expect to pay for it. History, like English Literature and Fine Arts, are hobbies and the general public shouldn't be expected to stump up or subsidise these courses.

I agree that people need to more rounded though but that should be through their own interests rather than a uni degree.

I better add that I was one of the lucky ones. Council house upbringing and poor school record meant that, for someone like me, University was far off dream. It was only by chance that I ended up winning a scholarship to do an HND in Computing (at a decent technical college) that I ended up going to uni. And, again, I was lucky enough to get a full grant and, as there were no tuition fees back then, it meant I left uni pretty much debt free. If I had the same choice these days I doubt I'd dare saddle myself with 30k of debt just for a degree.

Bring back the old days of free education. It benefits the entire country when we produce high class graduates. Too many bright people are dropping out due to overwhelming debt.

And tax breaks for apprenticeships. We need decent sparkies, chippies, brickies and mechanics just as much as we need graduates.

Cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Sat 19 Apr 2008, 11:46, Reply)