Fees of 18k at new university

THE SCOTSMAN

Leading academics including AC Grayling, Niall Ferguson and Richard Dawkins have launched a new university they hope will rival Oxford and Cambridge. The New College of the Humanities, in London, will charge pound;18,000 a year and offer the “highest-quality” education to “gifted” undergraduates. But the Scottish Government is wary about the prospect of a similar set-up north of the border, insisting education should not be based on ability to pay.

Middle-class parents’ angst over IT

THE GUARDIAN

A study suggests many pre-school staff and parents see time spent at screens as a bad thing. The Open University’s Rosie Flewitt says nurseries that engage with new technologies in constructive ways are “the exception”. She and fellow researcher Sylvia Wolfe, of Cambridge University, found that some middle-class parents had little exposure to new technologies, while some children in less affluent families got excellent support at home.

Prince Philip’s “crank” schooling

THE SCOTSMAN

Prince Philip’s education at a prestigious Scottish private school was seen as a negative when he was considered as a suitor to the future Queen, a new biography reveals. At a time when almost all courtiers attended Eton, members of the Royal Household considered Gordonstoun, near Elgin, as a “crank” and remote alternative which promoted strange ideas of social equality.

Chomsky attacks cuts

THE HERALD

A leading academic has attacked proposed cuts by a Scottish university. Noam Chomsky, renowned for his work in linguistics and his political activism, said Strathclyde University plans to cut music, geography, community education and sociology courses were “very odd”. His comments are particularly embarrassing as he is an emeritus professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Strathclyde principal Jim McDonald wants to create an “MIT on the Clyde”.

Fears over computing equipment

THE PRESS AND JOURNAL

Councillors fear a major upgrade of computers in Highland schools is at risk because beleaguered technology firm Fujitsu has failed to do basic paperwork. With less than a month until end of term, heads have not been asked how many laptops, desktops and computer programs they need. It is understood council officials and Fujitsu project leaders have failed to agree on correspondence to be sent to schools.