Prodigy could go to university, but should she?

Readers discuss a 15-year-old prodigy who is struggling to go to university. Other topics: hate-crime law, business class children and Gaza toll.

Readers discuss when teenager Sitara Brooj Akbar should go to university. Satish Kumar / The National

Your story about Sitara Brooj Akbar (Young academic record-breaker struggles to find university place, July 21) reflects a situation that is both ridiculous and far too common.

When I was at Oxford, there were several underage students – the youngest was a 12-year-old boy studying mathematics – who missed out on the whole social aspect of university. They failed to take advantage of so many opportunities that would have been available to them if they'd just waited until the appropriate age.

This teenager can do all sorts of interesting and inspiring things over the next three years that are more age-appropriate. In my view, anyone who helps fund her studies now is not doing her any favours.

Rachel Hamilton, Dubai

She is just 15 and grades are not the only measure of maturity. So she should improve her intercultural skills by doing something like going to high school abroad.

She could go to the US or to a European country such as Germany, where there are no tuition fees, learn a new language and meet people from all around the world. It would be a great experience for her.

Omar Jaramillo, Germany

The authorities should be able to make exceptions for students who excel. If the Pakistani government is willing to help out, I am sure she will be able to join any university abroad.

If Malala Yousafzai can study abroad, then why not her?

Jahangir Khan, Sharjah

New law will help us all to live together

I read with interest Peter Hellyer's article citing a non-Muslim boy being called an infidel because he wasn't fasting during Ramadan (Legislation bolsters the battle against intolerance, July 21).

It's best not to call anyone a kafir, even if they are polytheist and not Ahl Al Kitab or people of the book. It's Allah's job to judge and decide. We are all brothers and sisters in humanity, regardless of our faith.

Mariyah Fatoom, Dubai

My children will fly business class

With regard to your editorial, Do children belong in business class? (July 21), if the passengers are paying for the seats, including for their children, nobody has any right to say they cannot fly business class.

If the children are really young, flying is a difficult experience for them. Honestly, people should be more understanding and if an airline starts imposing restrictions on the class that children can travel, I can see people patronising other airlines.

I fly business class along with my two teenage children. I will keep doing so, even if that means I have to pick another airline.

Diana Phelps, Dubai

Many of us would be happy to pay extra to ensure a peaceful trip. I know I certainly would.

It always amazes me that some – and please note I said some – parents believe that they have the ultimate right to expect everyone else’s understanding.

What about being understanding and respectful of the hundreds of other people around you? I travel a lot – 80,000 kilometres in the first half of this year alone – and I see parents who are well prepared to take care of their children and quickly sort them out.

But I also see many parents who don't seem to care and allow their children to run riot.

For babies, I think it would be good if airlines could install a small soundproof cabin. Parents with babies that are restless could nurse them there. It would be more comfortable for both the mother and for the other passengers.

Steve O'Brien, Abu Dhabi

My child has been taking transAtlantic flights since she was three months old. I would bring food and toys and take care of her the entire time she was awake. This is called parenting.

This meant I didn't get to watch movies because nobody but the parent is responsible for their child. I think people should not have a child until they are mature enough to handle this responsibility.

Janet Humphrey, Abu Dhabi

I think parents should teach their children to behave, irrespective of the class they are travelling in.

Some people simply choose to ignore any kind of parenting. My message is to them.

Marina Bhandari, Dubai

Gaza toll is truly heartbreaking

Thank you for publishing Heidi Levine's photo essay about Gaza (Healing and Resilience, July 15).

The devastation wreaked by Israel on innocents in Palestine is in stark contrast to what I experienced in my four years living in the UAE, where people of all faiths lived side by side.

Carine Risberg, Canada