University free or University fee? (Higher Education - Free for all or Fee for all?)

Name: dididave

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Product:	Higher Education - Free for all or Fee for all?
Date:	20/09/05 (396 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Knowledge is good.

Disadvantages: Pointless knowledge is not.

Controversial title eh? Well it is a contentious issue is it not? Opinion is seemingly divided into those who think students should pay up and "get a proper job" and those who think students represent the future of all that is necessary in society and as such should be funded totally by the taxpayer. However, I believe that it is not such a straightforward issue.

My own personal opinion on Higher Education is not covered simply by either "free for all" or "fee for all" viewpoint but rather I am of a much more complex view. If the choice were mine I would be allowing students courses be it University or college to pay fees but I have strong belief in a system of means testing. I do not believe parents should have to pay for their child's education but neither do I believe that it should be the sole responsibility of the taxpayer to shoulder the burden.

Although controversial the governments plan to allow graduates to pay back fees when they are working seems a good one to me. Of course graduates have to work incredibly hard to gain a degree but then they will be more than reaping the rewards when they qualify won't they? Of course this is all providing the method of means testing is appropriate and in my view providing a graduate is earning £20,000+ per year I fail to see a problem with them paying back a small proportion of this in fees. Rather this than increasing taxes or students and parents falling into poverty. Naturally if a student never achieves a sufficient wage level then they never have to pay it back.

Popular argument against this is that graduates are an essential part of society and should not be punished for this and in part I agree. However, the graduate who gains a degree in Market Research is not to my mind doing a great deal to further society and in my opinion should be paying for their course that will reap them financial benefits in the future. Perhaps, the government and education authorities could look into free fees for courses deemed beneficial to society? Doctors who choose to work within the NHS, Lawyers, Social Workers etc could all be entitled to free funding under such a system. Of course deciding the courses that were "worthy" would be subjective but rather this than taxpayers money funding bizarre courses with little possible outcome. Do not get me wrong, I am all for furthering your own knowledge and improving yourself but perhaps not at my expense?

I can see Students everywhere getting angered as I type but I say this a former student of two universities. My wife is about to attend university as is my sister so I am not saying this purely from a working taxpayers point of view. I applaud anyone who goes through the rigours of a University degree but whether all degrees should be free I would strongly dispute.

Perhaps it is the degrees themselves I have a problem with and their lack of vocational direction? Whatever my motives I do not think University should be free although no doubt people will disagree...

Summary: My views in a nutshell.