Many people today find that the cost of attaining a University-level education is extremely high for the students and their families. What are the causes of this situation, and how can governments, Universities and the students themselves overcome the problem?
Many people today find that the cost of attaining a University-level education is extremely high for the students and their families. What are the causes of this situation, and how can governments, Universities and the students themselves overcome the problem? EylQ
While many young people aspireto attending University, theexpenseinvolved can be prohibitivein
some cases. The causes of this appear to befocussed on three areas, and a number of solutions also appear to be
possible.
Perhaps the major factor hereis thereduction in government subsidy for University courses. For
instance, in the UK, such courses were virtually freeto thestudent until recently, but now cost around
£30, 000 per year. This pattern appears to be global, with theresult that students and their families need to
meet the costs directly. Another causeis theincreasing 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, whiletaking up
timethat students should usefor their studies.
Turning to possiblesolutions, an obvious step would beto restoresomeelement of statefunding to
courses. Although public budgets are under pressurethese days, if wetook this step it would greatly enhance
access to courses for people on lower incomes. A second remedy might befor the Universities to offer shorter
courses, or more courses with an element of professionally paid work experienceincluded. If such courses were
more available, it would reducetheissue of living expenses to someextent. Finally, students themselves should
perhaps be moreflexiblein their attitudeto education, and consider attending University at a later stage, or
possibly only when they have accumulated sufficient funds to support themselves.
In summary, thefactors of funding and cost of living appear to bethe main causes. A coordinated
response by thestate, theinstitutions and theindividuals may well lessen theseverity of thesituation. 
While  
many
 young  
people
  aspireto
 attending  
University
,  
theexpenseinvolved
 can be  
prohibitivein
 some
 cases. The causes of this  
appear
 to  
befocussed
 on three areas, and a number of solutions  
also
  appear
 to be
possible.
Perhaps the major factor  
hereis
  thereduction
 in  
government
 subsidy for  
University
  courses
. For
instance, in the UK, such  
courses
 were  
virtually
  freeto
  thestudent
 until recently,  
but
  now
  cost
 around
£30, 000 per year. This pattern  
appears
 to be global, with  
theresult
 that  
students
 and their families need to 
meet
 the  
costs
  directly
. Another  
causeis
  theincreasing
  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,  
whiletaking
 up 
timethat
  students
 should  
usefor
 their studies.
Turning to  
possiblesolutions
, an obvious step would  
beto
  restoresomeelement
 of  
statefunding
 to
courses. Although public budgets are under  
pressurethese
 days, if  
wetook
 this step it would  
greatly
 enhance
access to  
courses
 for  
people
 on lower incomes. A second remedy might  
befor
 the  
Universities
 to offer shorter
courses, or more  
courses
 with an element of  
professionally
 paid work  
experienceincluded
. If such  
courses
 were
more available, it would  
reducetheissue
 of living expenses to  
someextent
.  
Finally
,  
students
 themselves should
perhaps be  
moreflexiblein
 their  
attitudeto
 education, and consider attending  
University
 at a later stage, or 
possibly
  only
 when they have accumulated sufficient funds to support themselves.
In summary,  
thefactors
 of funding and  
cost
 of living  
appear
 to  
bethe
 main causes. A coordinated
response by  
thestate
,  
theinstitutions
 and  
theindividuals
 may well lessen  
theseverity
 of  
thesituation
.