WHAT is Sir Alex Ferguson doing to prepare for the new season? Choosing some very good players, some average players and some poor players, to give everyone a chance?

No. He will be choosing the very best players to win the Premiership and secure the future of Manchester United.

Why then, in seeking to secure the competitiveness of British industry are we stopping the best students going to university and thefore depriving business of the very best potential employees?

At the University of Manchester, where I am a Governor, admissions are purely on merit.

This sensible policy does not apply everywhere. Why are some of our universities required to refuse admission to better qualified students so as to favour applicants from `the right background'?

Are we afraid to uphold traditional values on the altar of "political correctness?"

Ultimately, this one-size-fits-all approach led to the closure of our grammar schools and technical colleges, resulting in bright children from poorer backgrounds finding it more difficult to get a good education; and you and me finding it impossible to find a plumber!

In this very attempt to be fair we are letting our children down. We live in a competitive world, and different people have different talents. We should be encouraging these differences not trying to ignore them.

It is no wonder that many tradesmen on our building sites are from Eastern Europe, most dentists are Australian, while many `media studies' graduates find it impossible to get a job. Where is the sense in that?

Why are we spending millions of pounds educating people for unemployment?

Business is not stupid. Employers see academic qualifications being diluted, and find it difficult to assess real talent when looking for new employees. This "dumbing down" is in part the result of mindless government targets.

Why should 50 per cent of children have a "university" education regardless of academic ability, when a vocational route may be the best to achieve their potential?

We need a balanced system providing a wider range of educational opportunities; recognising that the world is a fast changing competitive place, where only the best will survive, and each individual has to play to his or her unique strengths. The sooner our young people get used to this idea, and our academic institutions help rather than hinder the process, the better.

Food for thought… or do you think Manchester City will actually win the Premiership and Sir Alex is wasting his time?

JOHN McGuire is principal of McGuire Associates. Contact him with your views via businessdesk@men-news.co.uk Tweet