SIR,
It is difficult not to feel extremely sympathetic towards young people now faced with the choice of either giving up on higher education or accumulating a huge millstone of debt after paying the higher university fees planned by our new coalition government.
However, a valid opposing view is that it is only fair that those who benefit from higher education should be expected to contribute towards the cost of the vast increase in students now going to university, particularly when the supply of new graduates appears to considerably exceed the availability of employment suited to their qualifications.
The debate on the cost and funding of higher education is a highly-charged political issue, which will no doubt be with us for a long time to come.
In spite of having much sympathy for those students recently participating in peaceful protest, and respecting their democratic right to express their views in this manner, I was extremely concerned by last week's demonstration in Agincourt Square by Monmouth Comprehensive School pupils.
The demonstration involved a walkout during school hours that appears to have had the support of the school's headteacher and staff.
Regardless of what their personal views may be, surely it is fundamentally wrong for teaching staff to become involved in political issues with their students and to show active encouragement for them to either support or oppose any policies of any political party.
Jim Duncan
(Monmouth)