Free
Tuition: An Opinion Piece
Dakota
Jones
Tuition – the impending thought and factor that
greatly determines whether students continue their education, or even pursue it
at all. College tuition prices have grown substantially over the last several
decades, leaving talks for decreased tuition costs to rise to an all-time high.
On average, graduates borrowed around $29,000 to complete their degrees. An
affordable number for some, but numbers like that are part of the reason why
many do not wish to attend secondary education – it is just not realistic for
the average North American. Loans can
take years to pay off, and when one considers the current price of life and
increased inflation, it is no doubt that there is a large demographic that can
only dream about attending post-secondary.
The benefits of introducing free college tuition
become evident by practice in European countries which includes;
Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Slovenia. The fabric of these countries
has dramatically emboldened due to increased adoption of socialistic
ideologies. Increased economy and increased socio-economic status for many has
incentivized a diminishing of the wealth gap, which in turn presents further
equality. Access to higher education has proven to be an economic and social
stimulant, but it also equates to improved mental health, longer lifespan,
higher rates of pay, and lower rates of unemployment. Although consensus has
not concluded on the full effects that decreased tuition would introduce,
working systems provide us with evidence that decreased college tuition on a
grand scale, can be beneficial for many people.
Lowering or eliminating college tuition fees is not
the all-solving band-aid that a majority seems to perceive it to be. Initial
impacts and policies will be altered to adapt to such an essential systematic
change. Setting a precedent is the most critical aspect of the free college
tuition movement. Once talks originate and spread increased circulation and
thought refinement would work towards a more in-depth discussion on a topic
that is universally adopted. Accessibility is critical to think about when
considering proposed tuition decreases. No one is saying that prestigious
schools such as Harvard or Stanford should allow students to attend for free.
There is still a privilege that is maintained by these schools because of the
high standards they hold themselves too. Ensuring people have equal rights to
access to education at a rate that does not hinder progress, is one of the
outlying proposals for the free tuition movement. Regulations and policy will
still filter out those who attempt to take advantage of opportunities
presented, especially because tax-payer dollars will go towards free tuition.
Having a set of guidelines, regulations and achievable requirements will ensure
that genuine go-getters will be able to pursue higher education.
References:
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/080616/6-countries-virtually-free-college-tuition.asp
