Education is a learning process that imparts skills, knowledge, beliefs, habits, and values to the learners. Educational instructions are transferred to students by educators and resource people in public, home, and private schools. The education system in the United States is divided into preschool, elementary, high school, and college. The government funds all the levels apart from Higher education. I believe the government should provide free university education as it will create equality, reduce health disparities and promote democracy and leadership. However, funding of colleges by the government will mean increased public debts, a surplus workforce which will result in unemployment and political interference in the decision making of matters on learning.
College Education should be Free
Education has an intrinsic and instrumental value for people and the society as a whole. The United States introduced the k-12 education system whose ultimate goal is to ensure every citizen can access higher education. In the event college education is fully funded by the government and made free to the willing learners, many students despite their social class will be able to further their education. Skills and knowledge that people acquire at the tertiary level will enhance the economic development of the country as the more skilled workforce is produced (Allen and Danielle). Individually people will be able to improve their standards of living hence able to acquire basic needs and better healthcare. Consequentially, the poverty rate in the society will go down as many of the people will be able to get employment (Allen and Danielle).
Every citizen is entitled to the opportunity to acquire education. Free tertiary training, raises good leadership in the county as many talented and educated citizens take up political roles. Additionally, the leaders can be able to make wise judgment and choices which will improve the country's economic, social, and cultural state. A society with knowledgeable individuals is democratic as their leaders cannot manipulate the citizens due to poverty and illiteracy. Besides, the people will be more vocal as they will be more concerned with the happenings of the government (Jared, Flier and Jeffrey).
Free higher education will reduce health inequalities and improve people's lifestyles behaviors (Jeffrey, Jared and Flier). Despite advancements made in medical care by the USA government, disparities in individual well-being are increasing for conditions like cancer, cardiovascular and obesity among the economically disadvantaged ethical and racial population in the US. Educating the people in the minority group means that they will have equal chances in the job market hence able to access health care services. Additionally, education enlightens people on how to embrace the right lifestyle and how to prevent diseases. The USA government spends approximately $3.3 trillion annually on catering for health care (Jeffrey, Jared and Flier). However, offering free tertiary training to all citizens will reduce the expenditure of the government as the people will know about prevention of diseases and healthy living.
College Education should not be Free
Teachers and resource people are rewarded with high salaries for their labor. Also, teaching aids and equipment are expensive hence the costly college fee. In the event the government takes up the financial liability of catering for tertiary education, the countries expenditure will escalate (Jared, Flier and Jeffrey). The living standards will increase as prices of goods will be inflated to provide for the added expense. Alternatively, the government will be forced to borrow loans from World Bank and other countries to finance the higher education, therefore, increasing public debts. College fee should not be free as the government has too many expenses and it will only increase the countries deficit (Allen and Danielle).
The extent of control by the government in different sectors of the economy is dependent on how much it invests in the area (Jeffrey, Jared and Flier). Therefore, a free college education means more significant control of the services and activities of the college by the government. Such power in the higher learning institution will result in a bureaucratic, unresponsive and rigid system for professors and students. Additionally, there will be a lot of political interference and influence when it comes to deciding regarding education. The government has less impact in the tertiary training currently thus there is a thriving college education in the US. Besides, the curriculum developed is tailored to meet the states, country and individuals needs and create a fulfilling educational experience.
A free college education is not a good idea as the college education will lose its value. The workforce produced will not be fully qualified as the teacher-student ratio will be high. Many people perceive that higher education is a guarantee of a successful life and a good job; thus, a lot of students will seek the college education (Jared, Flier and Jeffrey). The job market will be crowded with the surplus workforce, and this will result in unemployment or underutilization of labor by employers.
Conclusion
Free college education has its pros and cons. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Tertiary training enables the country to produce the needed workforce therefore providing free college education will ensure the nation never lacks professional. Additionally, the dependency rate of the unemployed citizen will go down as the knowledge and skills imparted to students while schooling will enable them to get employment and create employment.
Works Cited
Allen " Danielle. (2016). Education and equality. chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Jared, M., Flier " Jeffrey, R., (2018). The US Health Provider Workforce.
Georgina: Mercatus Working Paper, Mercatus Center at George Mason.
Jeffrey, S., Rhoads, Jared., and Flier. (2018). The US Health Provider Workforce.
