IN response to last week’s letter on school funding (School funding needs to be addressed now, Postbag, April 27) and the general hyperbole within it.

‘State schools are being starved of funds and haven’t been in such an abysmal state for at least 40 years...’

FACT: Public spending on education has risen over the last 40 years and consistently been around 4.6 per cent of national income and schools have been protected from the Government’s recent spending cuts - it increased under Blair’s Government due to education education education but look at the debt that was built up as a consequence.

Without wishing to turn this into a political football, I don’t see how you can say schools are being starved of funds.

Surely it is a wider issue, that has been discussed, about the increasing number of people entering into this country who expect free schooling and free healthcare?

If only all the people that entered this country had high-paying jobs and were able to contribute their fair share of taxes to support the state system, then we wouldn’t be in this dire mess.

READ MORE: LETTER: People who provately educate their children should pay their way

But the subject was whether VAT should be added to school fees - a proposal from Mr Corbyn I believe.

I would argue that higher earners in society actually pay higher taxes into the pot of money that is spent on education.

And yet, they receive no rebate for taking their children out of the state system to give them a better start in life at places of academic discipline, and an environment where the children are motivated to achieve their potential.

I’m glad there is a choice and I am prepared to make those huge sacrifices which, contrary to what Mr L states, applies to a great number of parents who are struggling to keep up with the yearly increases in fees.

READ MORE: INSIGHT: Should VAT on private school fees fund free school meals?

Sounds like you have been the victim to the politics of envy.

The whole ethos behind public school is based on discipline, mutual respect and hard work and from this, you end up with highly-capable and qualified children ready to face the world, with hopefully higher-paid jobs, to contribute more taxes into the ‘free’ system that the majority of people enjoy.

We don’t live in a Utopian society that Mr L seems to think exists.

ANONYMOUS