Ageing, underpaid, but still able 1

Where is the evidence that older staff are under-productive ("Age law adds to campus burdens", THES , August 2)? By stating that European Directive 2000/78 on workplace discrimination could keep ageing, expensive and under-productive lecturers in post and create staffing problems, you not only insult overworked staff but reflect the ageism prevalent among management striving to postpone implementation.

Older, experienced staff teach, research, assess, publish, consult, design courses and bear other responsibilities without adequate remuneration.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency chart shows that there are about 26,000 academics in the 46-55 age group, but the number falls to about 8,000 in the 56-60 group and 3,000 in the 61-66 group. By then, most probably consider they have been exploited enough and say good riddance.

Andrew Chanerley
School of computing and technology
University of East London

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