Abstract
This paper is about exploring ways to make education affordable for students everywhere. Education being expensive is the main reason that many people cannot pursue higher education. The Government needs to change its policies regarding tuition fee and taxes. The federal legislature needs to fund the students to get them to enroll. Due to the competition among people and harsh living standards, the need to earn for themselves does not allow the students to pay their college fee unless it is scholarship or patronage of the parents. Education needs to be prioritized so that students do not face any problems after graduating high school and can easily continue with their studies. Firms and business companies should take part in funding students and assist them in acquiring education.
How can education be made affordable?
The present study analyzes how education can be made affordable for students everywhere as with the changing times, the prices of everything are rising. Students suffer when it comes to paying for their tuition as most students do not have the means for it. Education plays a vital role in our lives. It is a tool that allows us to gain knowledge and then apply the acquired knowledge on different aspects of our lives. Education facilitates our learning and skills. It shapes our personality and makes us a better member of the society. Without it, no human can survive in the world as education gives access to all kinds of opportunities such as employment which is an essential factor for earning a living and without which people will be on the streets, homeless and starving. In the recent years, a change has been seen in the cost of school fee which has become a crisis of a sort as it stops students from learning and getting a degree. The problem has been subject to debate and strategies need to be made to make education affordable for everyone.
Education is the only source that can equalize the economy of any country. The more students acquire education and earn degrees, the more likely they are to get employed in different fields and earn for themselves and their families. Education acts as a link between people and the country. If the number of uneducated people will increase within a state, then the economy will be destabilized and will eventually crumble causing a significant financial crisis. An educated individual acts as an essential asset to its country. However, each year getting education becomes tough for people as the tuition fee keeps increasing.
Different strategies can be used to make education accessible to everyone. Incentives should be provided to students to help them fulfill their dreams and get their dream jobs. Scholarships for low-income students should be a priority as they need all the help they can get to enroll in colleges and continue with their studies. The government needs to make the first move in making education accessible for all. For instance, state legislatures can be persuaded to help students by funding tuition freezes. When students are faced with unfunded freezes, they are unable to finish college on time and pay for the expenses at the same time. With the help of funded freezes, students will get a quality education while spending less of their own hard-earned money on tuition fee and be able to get their degrees. The prices on resources should be reduced so that the students are motivated to study more and more without worrying about their financial situation and book prices. Although nowadays everything is available on the internet in places where the internet facilities are not available, books and other reading material are necessary. Recent reports show that students are mostly unaware of financial aid related information and even those that know about cannot see much advantage in it as most are low-income students. For students who suffer from economic crisis and family issues, a small percentage of financial aid is not sufficient to get them enrolled in colleges (Rosa).
Firms and business companies should be persuaded to fun tuition fees and scholarships so that students are motivated to go for higher studies and pursue their dream careers. Funding from different organizations will not help students with their tuition but will also set an excellent example for others to follow in their steps. Students should be awarded work-study aid to help them study further as most of the students have low income. The assistance will help the students pursue their educational dreams and motivate them to enroll in universities (Morgan). Despite the progress in the field of economy, there are still problems when it comes to recruiting in colleges and universities. The focus should be on prioritizing education and on learning outcomes (Burnett, 1996). Education affects every member of the society. If people are not given access to affordable education, then they will not find employment which will the directly harm the economic infrastructure of any nation (Samoff, 1996).
In conclusion, it can be said that the Government needs to prioritize education above everything else. Education is a necessity and cannot be ignored. For the citizens of any country, it is of utmost importance to pursue higher education to get employment. With the changing times, it is becoming difficult to keep up with the prices of everything. Education is the only tool that helps individuals survive in such a competitive society. Different incentives should be provided to students so that they can easily enroll in colleges soon after they graduate high school. Therefore, with a proper education degree, people can earn for themselves and secure a better future for themselves.
References
Burnett, N. (1996). Priorities and strategies for education—a World Bank review: the process and the key messages. International Journal of Educational Development, 16(3), 215–220.
Morgan, J. M. (2012). Making College More Affordable: The President’s Plan to Lower College Tuition Is a Good First Step, But More Can Be Done. February, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC, http://www. americanprogress. org, (2012/02).
Rosa, M. L. D. L. (2006). Is opportunity knocking? Low-income students’ perceptions of college and financial aid. American Behavioral Scientist, 49(12), 1670-1686.
Samoff, J. (1996). Which priorities and strategies for education? International Journal of Educational Development, 16(3), 249–271.
