Exhibit 23.1



                     [PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LETTERHEAD]



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 6, 2000 except for the
information presented in Notes 31 and 34, for which the date is May 12, 2000
relating to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 1999 which appears in Pearson plc's Form F-1, Registration
Statement (No. 333-43198) dated August 7, 2000.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
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PricewaterhouseCoopers
September 1, 2000