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THE academic plan under discussion at Queen's University Belfast proposes the closure of degree courses in Italian (THES, June 5). This means that Italian would not be taught to degree level anywhere in Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland's schools, for cultural reasons, Italian is taught far more extensively than in the rest of the country. sixth-formers there tend to choose a local university, so the plan would prevent many of them from continuing their Italian studies to degree level.

David Robey. Chairman of the Society for Italian Studies