While many young people aspire to attending University, the expense involved can be prohibitive in some cases. The causes of this appear to be focussed on three areas, and a number of solutions also appear to be possible.
Perhaps the major factor here is the reduction in government subsidy for University courses. For instance, in the UK, such courses were virtually free to the student until recently, but now cost around £30, 000 per year. This pattern appears to be global, with the result that students and their families need to meet the costs directly. Another cause is the increasing cost of living in many countries, meaning that the cost of day to day life (in addition to fees) can be almost overwhelming for students. A third factor is the difficulty in finding part-time work while a student is studying. Such work tends to be poorly paid, while taking up time that students should use for their studies.
Turning to possible solutions, an obvious step would be to restore some element of state funding to courses. Although public budgets are under pressure these days, if we took this step it would greatly enhance access to courses for people on lower incomes. A second remedy might be for the Universities to offer shorter courses, or more courses with an element of professionally paid work experience included. If such courses were more available, it would reduce the issue of living expenses to some extent. Finally, students themselves should perhaps be more flexible in their attitude to education, and consider attending University at a later stage, or possibly only when they have accumulated sufficient funds to support themselves.
In summary, the factors of funding and cost of living appear to be the main causes. A coordinated response by the state, the institutions and the individuals may well lessen the severity of the situation.
While
many
young
people
aspire to attending
University
, the expense involved can be prohibitive in
some
cases. The causes of this
appear
to
be focussed
on three areas, and a number of solutions
also
appear
to be possible.
Perhaps the major factor here is the reduction in
government
subsidy for
University
courses
.
For instance
, in the UK, such
courses
were
virtually
free to the
student
until recently,
but
now
cost
around £30, 000 per year. This pattern
appears
to be global, with the result that
students
and their families need to
meet
the
costs
directly
. Another cause is the increasing
cost
of living in
many
countries, meaning that the
cost
of day to day life (
in addition
to fees) can be almost overwhelming for
students
. A third factor is the difficulty in finding part-time work while a
student
is studying. Such work tends to be
poorly
paid, while taking up time that
students
should
use
for their studies.
Turning to possible solutions, an obvious step would be to restore
some
element of state funding to
courses
. Although public budgets are under pressure these days, if we took this step it would
greatly
enhance access to
courses
for
people
on lower incomes. A second remedy might be for the
Universities
to offer shorter
courses
, or more
courses
with an element of
professionally
paid work experience included. If such
courses
were more available, it would
reduce
the issue of living expenses to
some
extent.
Finally
,
students
themselves should perhaps be more flexible in their attitude to education, and consider attending
University
at a later stage, or
possibly
only
when they have accumulated sufficient funds to support themselves.
In summary, the factors of funding and
cost
of living
appear
to be the main causes. A coordinated response by the state, the institutions and the individuals may well lessen the severity of the situation.