THE arguments have been trotted out ad nauseum.

Latin, once a fundamental pillar of education, is a dead language, no-one uses it any more, resources can be better employed elsewhere, et cetera, et cetera.

It is true that a qualification in the language per se does not automatically enhance a pupil's employment prospects, but many argue that it is a valuable tool when it comes to instilling the basics of grammar; learning Latin is ipso facto a useful exercise in the light of recent controversies over declining standards of literacy in our schools.

It is reported today that Classics students at the University of Glasgow will this year begin a course to teach Latin to school pupils as part of a programme which aims to use the ancient language to improve literacy rates.

The project will involve each student teaching one hour-long class per week throughout the school year.

Uniquely in the case of the Glasgow project, there is a quid pro quo; the university students will receive credits towards their degree - non-credit-bearing courses run elsewhere in the UK.

It will of course take much more than a few hours of instruction in Latin to change the bigger picture in our schools; but this scheme will surely be a useful exercise at the very least. Carpe diem, boys and girls.