Not so Starling. The commercial organizations provide an excellent service. If they find their sales damaged by the publicly funded BBC they won’t be able to do such a good job and that WILL damage children's education. Only someone who believed that the commercial orgs had no regard for their (very important) reputations would imagine that they don’t aspire to provide a high quality product. That costs. Having public bodies eating away at profits might make it hard to continue to provide that quality.

The Farmer, Devon,

Joined. Up. Government.

Not.

Peter 'Junkkdotcom' Martin, Ross on Wye, UK

This is beyond insane. Money is more important than children's education? They're getting rid of it because there are companies wanting to charge for similar programs? Well, TOUGH, the commercial companies can drop dead. Shame on the EU. I hope both the government and the BBC fight it.

Starling, Lancaster,

For once the European Commission has made the right decision, all be it for the wrong reasons; The real problem is not about unfair competition with companies offering a paying service. The B.B.C. was offering this service because of the failure of the current English school system to do its job.
When I was at school 30 years ago, Teachers would have been ashamed at such a suggestion even being considered; they had a certain pride in their professional competance.
Sadly in the era of easy exams, coinciding with lower reading and writing skills, it's natural that Teachers do not need to be as capable as in the past.
Going to University should be for the best not the masses, as is the case today.

John.Gilmore, Chantilly, France