It is argued that governments are responsible for free higher education for some underprivileged individuals. While this may work to a certain extent, I believe that governments should not be entirely free for every student.
On the one hand, it is understandable why higher education should be free for every individual. Firstly, many underprivileged would not lose educational opportunities, which could change their future completely. In Vietnam, for example, many children in rural areas would often have to drop schools early or have no opportunities to access universities when they are willing to because of their underprivileged backgrounds. By providing them scholarships, these individuals could continuously go to further education if they are willing to, which can give them more job opportunities and financial stability. Secondly, governments have a certain financial stability to provide youngsters with educational subsidies. This is mainly because annual taxes are often compulsory for many local businesses such as large companies and small retails, which are believed to stabilise national finances. As a result, it is believed that governments would not have financial burdens to provide scholarships for those poor individuals.
On the other hand, there are compelling reasons why I believe bachelor’s degrees should not be free. The key rationale is that many educational infrastructures would usually need those school fees for learning experience. For example, many local universities and vocational training have a heavy reliance on those school fees to invest in the newest technologies or equipment, which are often needed for many careers in a technological era such as doctors, engineering or technological engineering. Therefore, without school fees and government support, these schools would not be able to provide students professional expertise and a better learning environment. Another justification is that free scholarships could become a financial burden for many developing countries. This is largely because in many countries, there are many other social services which also require financial support from governments such as healthcare, military and public transports, which can be undeniably essential for local residents. This is why making higher education free such as universities may become a financial burden for many governments.
In conclusion, although it is undeniable that governments should make higher education free for poor individuals, I would maintain that higher education such as universities or vocational training should not be free for every student.