Readers' reactions

Last month in The THES ... Brian Groombridge argued for more effort to be made to promote lifelong learning.

I agree with Brian Groombridge ( THES , March 16) that higher education needs to take on board the aspirations of older people, especially those who wish to study part time.

I am studying part time for a BA in social policy at a local university and the fees amount to £5,400, which, according to the dean of my school, is because "universities receive significantly less from the Higher Education Funding Council for England for their part-time students, than they do for full-timers".

This seems like "top-up" fees through the back door and discriminates against part-time mature students.

Tessa Harding
Student, aged 52, Ely, Cambridgeshire