“Surely further education, no matter whether it be in a "serious subject" or a subject that someone is passionate about, is positive? If an individual wishes to develop skills they have gained, or to further their knowledge in a subject area they are passionate about, then why should they be prevented from doing so? Perhaps university is the most beneficial not only in terms of the educational benefits but in terms of developing social and personal skills.”

“I think too much emphasis is on whether or not a course is 'useful' or not. I did my degree on Film & Media Studies because it was a subject I am passionate about and wished to learn more about it. It wasn't because I wanted a career in such analysis or even in teaching about the subject, but because I wanted to learn more and develop myself.”

“Oh and S.Smith it is not the play itself where the important learning takes place, but watching the events before you and being able to critically appraise the correctly.”

“The tax payers alliance often seem to get their ideas straight from a certain daily. What annoys me most about them is they have a view on everything and it's almost always negative. A more suitable title would be middle aged, slightly xenophobic, establishment critical alliance. I have no problem with that, but they claim the high ground with their name. They pay tax there for you must listen to them and they are right as it is their money. This over looks two things in this particular case. Firstly businesses, football players etc generate far more tax than the alliance, secondly students pay back the amount borrowed with interest. In addition, just because you pay tax doesn't give you the right to say how it is spent. That right comes along every four years when you vote.”

“I think the real issue is that many of these courses were, in the past, offered at and were suitable for colleges and poly-technical colleges. The universities were where you went to study the ¿higher¿ subjects.

New Labour¿s desire for most of our children to go to university has led to the proliferation of these so-called non-degrees. This, I feel, has cheapened degrees the traditional subjects just to fit in with an artificial social-engineered ideal.

Many of these course are more vocational and would be better taught in colleges.

You are wrong to say ¿...an english qualification in some shakespeare play which has no practical application to an actual job.¿ What do you think people study at University to qualify to become English Teachers?”

“Most of the courses listed being ridiculed seem to offer training in something which could lead to a proper job which is surely better than say just an english qualification in some shakespeare play which has no practical application to an actual job.
Surely we need these more practical courses,not just couses which produce more and more overqualified students with no job skills !!!”

“The founding members of the TaxPayers Alliance all had links with the Conservative Party but it appears that their views sit to the right of it.”

“Alan - it isn't a quango. Dig around a bit and you'll find they're unlikely to be associated with Labour in any way at all - the only question is where the funding is coming from and just how right wing they really are!”

“"Tax payers alliance" just another Blair/Brown quango,costly unelected and not wanted. This statement simply states the obvious something we've all known as fact for years.”

“Just out of curiosity, who do the Taxpayers' Alliance think they are to keep popping up like this?

They don't represent ordinary taxpayers (did they ever ask you if you wanted them?), they're certainly not elected, and if you look at who they really represent you might be a little uncomfortable with that.”