Coughlan is right

I DO not agree with your columnist Matt Cooper (August 20) when he says Education Minister Mary Coughlan is wrong to defend the Leaving Cert and not to introduce fees for third-level colleges.

The Leaving Cert is one of the few things in this country in which merit and hard work, rather being a member of an insider elite, determines success.

The introduction of third-level fees would bring us back to the period when only the well-off could go to college.

On both of these issues I am with the minister.

Anthony Leavy

Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13