colleges should be free

Colleges should be free

The debate surrounding free college education has continued to generate diverse opinions and views from different stakeholders. While some support free college education, others argue that these students should pay for their education. The idea that some students are not suited for college studies is an issue that has been used to fight the free college policy. Also, those from rich families do not need any form of financial support. However, a free college education is an appropriate and strategic move that the government can make for current and future benefits. One is that it can improve access to education, especially for marginalized and poor communities. Also, free college education enhances equality in this sector by ensuring that everyone has an equal chance to gain a college education. A well-educated workforce is a major benefit associated with free college studies because the majority can further their studies. Notably, nations with a free college education system are better positioned to boost their economic growth and productivity. These exist as key results that individuals and nations are likely to obtain if a college education is free for all the learners. Thus, colleges should be free to improve access to education, create equality, provide a well-educated workforce, and enable nations to boost their economic growth and productivity.

Improved Access to Education

A free college education offers an opportunity to increase educational access and attainment. Financial challenge is a crucial barrier towards the acquisition of college studies. It has limited a large section of the community member to acquire educational skills because of financial challenges. For example, marginalized and poor communities have lower living standards due to the lack of a stable income. The resources at hand cater to vital needs, such as food and shelter. Parents can only send their children to primary levels because they require zero or minimal resources. States have a pivotal role to play in supporting higher educational attainment. As Perna, Elaine, and Stephanie (1744) state, states adopt and implement free tuition policies that allow access to a college education. These policies reduce the financial challenge that bars the majority of the learners from furthering studies in colleges. According to Harris (Harris et al. 3), a college education’s price is rising and out of reach for most American citizens. As it grows, it threatens most students’ desire to join colleges and fulfill their academic dreams and aspirations. Low-income families continue lagging as far as educational access and attainment are concerned. However, free education can bridge this gap and enable students to pursue various career opportunities of their choice. Thus, colleges enhance access to education, and global states must ensure that the younger generation can fulfill their academic aspirations. Education is the key to future success, and the move to offer free college education shapes young people’s lives. Besides, it also provides educational equality.

Education Equality

Free college education provides equal opportunities for all students to obtain higher educational outcomes. It enables students from lower-economic backgrounds to access college education from wealthy and rich families (de Gayardon 12). Inequalities often emerge where children from rich backgrounds have a higher chance of accessing college education than those from impoverished backgrounds. These inequalities continue to pose a significant challenge for these students in the future. Notably, some families overlook the needs of girls in the belief that boys are the community’s future. In a situation where a family has limited resources to invest in their children’s studies, boys are more likely to have this opportunity at the girl child’s expense. However, free college education reduces educational gaps between boys and girls. Thus, the government needs to develop and implement a strategic move, such as free education. According to Walker et al. (8), investing in free education for all is an action that is meant to bridge the inequality gap in this vital sector. Children from all backgrounds can meet their career goals because they have the support of the government. Students from low backgrounds fail to attend college or enroll in low-priced colleges due to their financial limitations. On the other hand, their counterparts from affluent segments attend the best schools and obtain quality milestones that make them highly competitive in the job industry. This leads to unequal outcomes for these two segments, and the introduction of a free college education is expected to curtail educational inequalities. Also, it provides the chance of building a well-educated workforce that acts as the base for economic progress.

A Well-educated Workforce

A free college education offers a foundation for the development of a well-educated workforce. Colleges and other higher learning institutions provide essential skills that offer individuals a viable chance of working across various organizations and institutions. In the modern setting, businesses are seeking highly qualified workers who can provide quality services and deliver optimal results. Primary level education only provides basics that learners can depend on to improve their lives. College education oversees students to acquire advanced skills and knowledge that is applicable in the corporate world. For example, teacher quality is one of the factors that influence student learning. Research shows that effective teachers can create a viable learning environment where they are likely to join college and obtain quality outcomes and annual earnings (Chingos 2). Good teachers are developed through college systems that allow the majority of the learners to pursue this career. For example, the free college policy helps build academically talented students who can actively participate in the corporate world. This does not mean that only students venturing into the teaching industry have an advantage because it benefits all the learners. Global economies benefit from a large composition of a workforce that possesses advanced skills. However, the task lies in each state’s hand to ensure that it provides numerous job opportunities to accommodate the high influx of students graduating across various colleges. Economic growth and productivity is an outcome associated with a free college education.

Enhanced Economic Growth and Productivity

Global states have the advantage of boosting their economic productivity through the free college education policy. The provision of key skills among the learners is a form of investment for economic productivity. States rely on these students to fill various opportunities in the public and private sectors. “Free college” educational programs have gained prominence in the US recently (Reidenbach 1). It is a part of an institutional agenda that is meant to advance educational outcomes in the country. It offers essential economic benefits such as increased productivity and the development of skills needed during rapid changes. When citizens are actively involved in the corporate world, states experience reduces economic challenges such as taking care of the needy. If most students can access learning opportunities, they are better placed to help themselves and their families. Notably, these individuals pay taxes that the government used to expand its economy. Education also allows nations to implement rapid changes. Deming (2) reveals that educational individual to learn new technologies and systems. They build literacy and numeracy levels that become a significant foundation for economic growth. For example, if the government needs to implement a swift change, it can rely on its educated workforce to achieve the milestones and goals that it has set. This shows that an educated population is an asset for every global state. Thus, there is a dire need for each government to consider the free college education policy because it stands to provide optimal economic benefits in the long run.

Conclusion

Free college education policy is one of the most beneficial decisions that global governments can make to improve learners’ lives and economic growth. Every nation is responsible for the learners’ educational outcomes, and they should take the responsibility to develop strategic approaches that fulfill their current and future needs. Benefits such as improved access to education, a well-educated workforce, inequalities elimination, and advanced economic growth emerge from the free college policy. These are expected to shape the future of all global economies because investing in young people has massive returns. However, it is also crucial for these governments to job opportunities that supplement a large number of graduating learners. It would be inappropriate for them to offer free educational opportunities and neglect their welfare after completing their studies. Every state should remain committed to creating job opportunities across the public and private industries. This will ensure that the free college policy not only caters to their current educational needs but also helps them shape their lives for the better

Works Cited

Castro-Zarzur, Rosa, Ricardo Espinoza, and Miguel Sarzosa. “Unintended Consequences of Free College: Self-Selection into the Teaching Profession.” (2019): 1-42.

Chingos, Matthew M. “Who would benefit most from free college?” (2016): 1-4.

de Gayardon, Ariane. “Free Higher Education: Mistaking equality and equity.” International Higher Education 91 (2017): 12-13.

Deming, David. The Economics of Free College. Economics for Inclusive Prosperity. (2019): 1-12.

Harris, Douglas N., et al. “The promise of free college (and its potential pitfalls).” (2018):1-38.

Perna, Laura W., Elaine W. Leigh, and Stephanie Carroll. “Free college:” A new and improved state approach to increasing educational attainment?” American Behavioral Scientist 61.14 (2017): 1740-1756.

Reidenbach, Matthew R. “Is Free Four-Year College Education in the United States a Good Economic Idea? A Note on Current Research and Trends in the “Free College” Movement” (2018): 1-9.

Walker, Jo, et al. “The Power of Education to Fight Inequality: How increasing educational equality and quality is crucial to fighting economic and gender inequality.” (2019).