Why have we become so obsessed with making sure everyone goes to university?

This month, the former Labour MSP and education spokesman Des McNulty wrote about poor access rates to university in poorer communities.

His comments came after the Higher Education Statistics Agency found that 27% of Scottish students come from under-represented groups, compared to 31% in England and Wales. Mr McNulty identified this as "a salutary reminder that Scotland is not a fairer place than other parts of the UK".

But what I would say is that finally someone has to admit that not everyone has to go to university.

Yes, I wholeheartedly believe that everything should be done in order to ensure anyone regardless of background and financial means should have the wherewithal to access further education, and it is fantastic that Scottish governments have not imposed any tuition fee barriers on its young people.

However, this apparently isn't enough. Will people like Des McNulty not be satisfied until that percentage is up to 50%?

What isn't fair is the opinion championed by Mr McNulty that you are seemingly not a "real person" unless you have a degree and that you have to question someone on why they are not in university.

If you are doing an apprenticeship or you are in college or you were simply quite happy with your highers and you also come from a lower socioeconomic background, Des McNulty might say he would rather you were in university to boost those figures he shakes his head at.

What isn't fair is the inflation in the number of graduates which has diluted employment prospects for all those with a degree in their hands. Governments want as many people as possible to go get a degree, it looks good on manifestos. But how are they going to clean up the mess of youth unemployment?

We were all told by teachers to go through four years of slog because you'll earn more in the long term as a result. Graduates supposedly do earn more in the long term than those without a degree, but will this still be true in 10 years' time when my generation is swelling with educated minds and idle hands?

What isn't always fair is that not everyone has the marks to get into university. There is an element of competition to higher education. Who knew? I've seen the entrance requirement for my course increase to almost straight As since I started in 2007.

Des McNulty says universities should take most of the blame but surely it is schools, particularly those in deprived areas, which need help to increase attainment levels.

Labour would be better off suggesting that universities charging ridiculous £9000 tuition fees (incidentally these are the universities with the lowest figures in this study) should be obliged to reach a quota on the number of bursaries open to students from poorer backgrounds.

Or better still, put money into apprenticeships to fill skills gaps. Why have apprenticeships been neglected?

What is the least fair from all of what Mr McNulty wrote is that "child poverty statistics reveal that 13 Scottish councils have wards where more than 30% of children live in severe poverty".

Help those children first, rather than focus on who is and who isn't sitting in the corner of the university library with their head bent over a textbook.