Funding should be linked to fair play

I was very interested to read your coverage of Gasper Vahramian's battle through the legal system to obtain his City and Guilds photography course certificate (THES, July 12).

I noted both the time it has taken Mr Vahramian to pursue his fight and the costs involved. He is to be congratulated for his courage and determination in pursuing his claim.

Unfortunately, educational establishments are all too aware of the time involved in litigation, the costs involved to the complainant, and the anguish incurred. They are aware that the process of taking on an organisation can act as a deterrent to potential complainants. I do not know how many organisations actually make an allowance for this or shelter behind such circumstances.

I congratulate The THES for highlighting Mr Vahramian's case. I believe there should be such transparency, particularly by way of regular published league tables of the performance of educational establishments, measured inter-alia in terms of the number of such general complaints, including sex and discrimination complaints. In so far as the latter are concerned, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission For Racial Equality should publish a league table each year, measuring the performance of institutions. Further, I believe Government funding should also be dependent upon a wider spectrum of considerations - including general efficiency, and equal opportunities performance.

ASIF H. QURESHI Oxford Road, Manchester