I ATTENDED the Cirencester hustings last week and listened to the candidates field questions on a variety of subjects.

All were particularly fond of using the phrases ‘future generations,' ‘all our children’ and ‘the young people’ when setting out their vision of life under their party’s government.

So answer me this: how does their dream of an educated, skilled and economically secure generation square with the reality of young people leaving university with an average debt of £40,000? Should those young people, intelligent with ambition and drive, really begin adult life with debts of this magnitude hanging over them?

Pupils from less-advantaged backgrounds are asking ‘Is it worth it?’ And, with no guarantee of employment at the end of it all, who can blame them.

Those who do persevere and gain a degree often look abroad for employment opportunities, as they find their education is valued more highly in other countries than here at home.

So dearest candidates, if your parties truly want to realise their vision of an educated, home-owning, prosperous generation providing this country with a skilled workforce, look to your education policies and the impact they are having on the economic futures of our brightest young people. You should be seeking to broaden access to education, not reduce it. Scotland have got it right. You seem to have let this one drop off the radar.

GILLIAN AKERS

Drift way

Cirencester