Free Tuition

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From kindergarten to grade 12 the public school system makes it free and accessible for everyone to begin their education, but if students wish to continue most will have to go into large amounts of debt. Years ago it was likely with a high school diploma that you would be able to get a well paying job, but according to the Washington Post this is no longer the case. A college degree is the new high school diploma, and we are making students go into huge amounts of debt just to live a middle-class lifestyle. Tuition needs to be free in British Columbia because accessible education will benefit personal growth and help society.
Accessible education because of free tuition will affect people’s lives. According to the Go Abroad foundation, education can impact fundamental things such as confidence, interpersonal skills, healthy lifestyles, and fighting poverty. Students cant get the full education they deserve it they are held back by financial issues. The cost of a college education has gotten so high that money is now a huge factor for even the most intelligent of student’s decision to go to college.
According to the Fraser Institute, the majority of students in college level schooling are from higher income families. The divide is very large. The Washington Posts discusses the importance of college education in becoming a part of the middle class. It is unfair to have someone’s education and possibly the rest of their lives be determined by what their family has done.
While free tuition would benefit personal growth, it would also contribute to society. Student Debt Relief believes free tuition would help the economy. If students were not in debt, they would be better consumers. According to Statistics Canada, the average student graduates with 26000 in student loans. If students are in debt, they will never be able to pay for significant goods and services that keep the economy going. According to the Urban Institute, for every 1% increase in student loans, the chance of owning a house goes down by 15%. They also found the majority of Millennials do not own a house because they can not afford it. This can cause a huge problem with the economy.
Student Debt Relief believes we are loosing some of the brightest minds because of tuition costs. A student could be extremely smart, but their choice of school could depend on affordability rather then the quality of the school. Some may even not go to college because of the financial burden. These students could help change the world but because of tuition prices their options are very limited. 
Free tuition will not only benefit people personally, it also helps the economy. From fundamental growth such as interpersonal skills and life styles, to the economy’s well being because of consumers with no debt. Free tuition should be a natural addition to the public school system because of how important a college degree is now to a middle class lifestyle. Financially suffering for years is the current reality in the world of students in post secondary education and it can not continue.













“How Student Debt Is Destroying The Economy And How We Can Stop It In Its Tracks.” Forbes. Retrieved February 12 2019 <https://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2018/11/08/how-student-debt-is-destroying-the-economy-and-how-we-can-stop-it-in-its-tracks/#7786e4906619>.

“It’s a mistake to cut tuition in Ontario.” Fraser Institute. Retrieved February 11 2019 <https://www.fraserinstitute.org/article/its-a-mistake-to-cut-tuition-in-ontario>.


“Obama: We have to make college affordable.” CNBC. Retrieved February 11 2019 <https://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/12/obama-we-have-to-make-college-affordable.html>.

“Should College Be Free?” Student Debt Relief. Retrieved February 11 2019 <https://www.studentdebtrelief.us/news/should-college-be-free/>.

“We're taxing our students into the poor house with loan debt.” CFJC Today. Retrieved February 12 2019 <https://www.cfjctoday.com/column/653391/were-taxing-our-students-poor-house-loan-debt>.


“10 Reasons Why Education Matters.” Go Abroad Foundation. Retrieved February 12 2019 <http://www.goabroad.org/10-reasons-why-education-matters>.

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2019 at 4:00 PM

    I totally agree that having post secondary education can have an effect on one’s self identity. For myself personally, college has been positive for me in the fact that I’ve learned new skills and made connections that I would have not made otherwise if I didn’t go. I also agree that even students who have a high intellect are not able to go to post secondary because of financial issues which directly impacts our society by stifling development of people with superior skill-sets. I also agree that having free tuition will have a better impact on our economy because people will be able to afford things like a house, a car, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Justin Muzzin CMNS 165February 24, 2019 at 6:59 PM

    With the devaluation of the high school diploma it is key that students have the opportunity to access free post secondary education to achieve a middle class lifestyle. I agree with your statement that post secondary education can boost ones confidence and alter their lifestyle choices. There are skills that acquired in post secondary that are gained no where else that make you a better individual overall. Also, the economical benefits to a higher educated society would be massive because people would be able afford things like a home, a car, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Daniel SzajnFebruary 27, 2019 at 9:59 PM

    I liked reading this and especially what you had to say about lowering tuition helping the economy. That argument is especially sound if its used to convince those with the power to affect change, as they are the ones who care most about the economy. The bigger business leaders would want students to be able to afford their goods, and would be able to help lobby political leaders in order to create change.

    ReplyDelete

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