The Government seems to go from one stupid idea to another. The latest is the idea to raise the school leaving age.

The Government raised the retirement age because of the shortage of funds for pensions.

However, the Govern-ment seems to think it can find money for education.

If a person stays at school or college it will not make them learn, but require classrooms that will need teachers, heating, lighting and maintenance.

It would be a lot more cost effective to have left the retirement age and the school leaving age as they are and give more support to the strengthening of learning and working at the same time throughout life.

The education minister stated that he wished he had stayed at school longer as he left at 15, but what difference could that have made to where he is today? Or does he believe he is not up to the job he has?

The Government needs to stop thinking of how to run everyone's lives and get on with the business of running the country, so people can run there own lives.

Roger Kemp
Cumberland Avenue
Southend