Kohl Fast
CMNS 165
Feb 10th, 2019
Tuition Opinion Piece
“Tuition fees have increased 63 per cent since the B.C. Liberals came into power in 2001, leaving the average student with $35,000 of debt, according to the Canadian Federation of Students.” (M. Sihota, C. Hansen, CBC, Jan. 12th, 2015). In order to improve the economy of the province as well as the country itself tuition should be free in Canada. The controversy and challenge to this, is choosing what qualifies as appropriate education. There needs to be very specific trades and skills that are relevant to helping the economy. "We're putting lots of money into trades training in British Columbia — because we're going to need that in the future — rather than just a wholesale, 'Come and take whatever course you like and somehow the taxpayer is going to pay for it.” (M. Sihota, C. Hansen, 2015).
In America President Obama in the past proposed that the first two years of community college should be free. In BC, Canada Prime Minister Trudeau has promised a change in more accessible education. These claims have been heavily scrutinized and many are claiming these are just false promises. With student fees and tuitions climbing student debt lingers to haunt countless Canadians. The basic concept with students receiving free tuition is they can live comfortably and re purpose their money back into the economy. Students would be able to remain living in the same province they attend school and further boost the economy. The main controversy surrounding free tuition would be who, when and how will we pay for our education. How will teachers make a living? Will our taxes increase and will we be responsible for paying off others educations for the rest of our lives?
MOOCs are massive open online courses that already exist. With three major MOOCs taking the lead with over four million enrolled students, Coursera, Udacity and edX. These services provide free education available for everyone, internationally. “In the near future, higher education will cost nothing and will be available to anyone in the world. Degrees may not be free, but the cost of getting some core education will be.” (V. Govindarajan, J. Desai, Harvard Business Review, Sept. 5th, 2015). The focus is to educate people in order to get them into the work force, more workers equals more money to be spent back into the economy and without federal debt, people can invest locally and buy real-estate. In regards to hiring, GPAs and test scores do not necessarily dictate a good employee.
In order to become a reality, free tuition would mean the federal government would need to put out heavy funding and our taxes would have to increase. There are currently 40 countries in the G20 that are providing free tuition for post secondaries. This is a great concept in order to support the economies and avoid future debt before student even have jobs. “The government in Canada has decreased funding post secondaries’s operating costs in the last two decades from 80% to 50%.” (D. McIver, J. Haiven, CBC Nov. 28th 2018). Free education would also promote equality with Canadians, giving equal opportunities.
There are many pros and cons considering free tuition. On a basic level free tuition makes sense to improve the economy. The challenges that this would bring would be very difficult. If Canada as a whole could cut back on the student debt crisis, Canadians would be able to support the economy on a whole other level.
References:
(D. McIver, J. Haiven, CBC,Pros and cons of free tuition, Nov. 28th 2018)
(M. Sihota, C. Hansen, CBC,Free college tuition: would Barack Obama's proposal work in B.C.? Jan. 12th, 2015)
(V. Govindarajan, J. Desai, Harvard Business Review, Should Higher Education Be Free? Sept. 5th, 2015).
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