every country, there are fashions among students about which subjects are the best to the study at university. Sometimes the popularity of a subject is determined by how much money a graduate could subsequently earn in that field. Or subjects that are perceived as relatively ‘easy’ may also become popular, in spite of later difficulties of finding appropriate employment. It is up to governments to give incentives to students to choose subjects that match the needs of their society.
Obviously one way to do this would be for the government to pay the fees of those choosing such subjects. The advantage would certainly be that higher number of students would enroll and would later fill the employment gaps.
However, the disadvantages of such a policy would be considerable. For example, the students attracted by the funding may not have any real interest in or aptitude for that subject. Such students may drop out before graduation or after working only a short time in a related job. Furthermore, funding one group of students but not other would penalize those with a genuine interest and ability for another field. Such discrimination would certainly affect the whole of higher education of the country, and students would develop very negative attitudes towards going to university altogether. This would be very counter-productive for any country.
In conclusion, I think there are many other incentives for students that could be considered, such as making courses more interesting to take, or the job rewards greater after graduation. The education policy proposed above, however, would certainly have more long-term disadvantages than benefits for society.
every
country, there are fashions among
students
about which
subjects
are the best to the study at university.
Sometimes
the popularity of a
subject
is determined
by how much money a graduate could
subsequently
earn in that field. Or
subjects
that
are perceived
as
relatively
‘easy’ may
also
become popular,
in spite of
later difficulties of finding appropriate employment. It is up to
governments
to give incentives to
students
to choose
subjects
that match the needs of their society.
Obviously
one way to do this would be for the
government
to pay the fees of those choosing such
subjects
. The advantage would
certainly
be that higher number of
students
would enroll and would later fill the employment gaps.
However
, the disadvantages of such a policy would be considerable.
For example
, the
students
attracted by the funding may not have any real interest in or aptitude for that
subject
. Such
students
may drop out
before
graduation or after working
only
a short time in a related job.
Furthermore
, funding one group of
students
but
not other would penalize those with a genuine interest and ability for another field. Such discrimination would
certainly
affect the whole of higher education of the country, and
students
would develop
very
negative
attitudes towards going to university altogether. This would be
very
counter-productive for any country.
In conclusion
, I
think
there are
many
other incentives for
students
that could
be considered
, such as making courses more interesting to take, or the job rewards greater after graduation. The education policy proposed above,
however
, would
certainly
have more long-term disadvantages than benefits for society.