Education: Right or Privilege?
Posted: December 9, 2010 Filed under: Culture, Debate, Education, Justice, Politics | Tags: Education, Liberal Democrats, Member of Parliament, Nick Clegg, poverty, protests, Tuition, University 9 Comments »Like many young people, tonight’s news that the government is to raise tuition fees to £9,000 a year makes me sick!
Personally, I think I’m already paying enough. Graduating with upwards of £30,000 debt is quite enough thank you very much. I don’t want any more.
The fact that the Liberal Democrats promised not to raise tuition fees (which won them a lot of votes from students) have done exactly that makes the news even worse.
But before we all sink into this pit of depression, let’s take a step back and ask a wider question. Is going to university a right, or a privilege?
The way some people have campaigned, you would think that it is a fundamental human right to have a reasonably priced (or preferably free) education. But sadly, I don’t think it is.
104 million children aged between 5 to 12 do not attend school. 94% of these children live in the developing world where no education equals few prospects and a life of poverty. As you can see from this graph, there’s a correlation between lack of education and increased poverty.
Of course I agree every man woman and child should be able to live in relative comfort, and not be subjected to poverty. But that is not the world we live in. Millions of children can’t even gain basic maths skills because their parents can’t afford to send them to school.
Yet we sit here in the West typing our blogs on our MacBooks, sitting on our comfy sofas drinking beer and complaining about tuition fees, when in reality we can afford to go to university because the government is going to lend us the money. We are able to gain an education whilst millions of others can never dream of it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy about the rise in tuition fees, it was totally wrong. I’m just trying to put thing in perspective. Whilst I don’t think education is a right, I believe it could be and even that it should be. But whilst there are millions of children unable to get a basic education, I can’t get angry enough to start a fire outside parliament square, when our government makes educated (and let’s face it, lucky) people pay more for higher level education.
***
Heck, people aren’t going to like that…
*runs away from angry mob of students*
Basic education should be a human right…whether or not all people have access to it is a matter of the countries in question not providing it for their population.
A higher education, however, is a privilege…however, it shouldn’t be a privilege based upon wealth, it should be a privilege based upon ability and intellect.
Sadly this is no longer the case.
I didn’t vote for Lib Dem, and I’m actually quite glad…they’ve lost every student vote they earnt in the run up to the elections.
Conservatives may be the people behind this all, but they did say something like this would happen. I feel terrible for voting for them, but they were the ones I agreed with the most…but at least they didn’t backtrack on their promises.
I just didn’t expect the fee rise to be so drastic…
Well said Sam, I completely agree with you
Amen.
Education isn’t really a right, it’s a gift. Let’s not all be spoilt, bratty kids that when God allows education to be more expensive we throw a tantrum and practically revolt against the government. Respect the government he put in place, yeah!?
Although yes it should be contested for.
I’m with mr. King on this one! The option to go to university should be on intellectual acclaim and their ability at the subject, rather than how much money they have/are going to make. I think each university should be given the grants to administer between their students based on their performance at gcse and (if needed) a portfolio. I’ve just thought of that system on the top of my head, but it’s a solid theory… :p
Make that a levels!!
I also agree with King and JP, although others would debate the unfairness as others may not have gained gcse’s or A levels due to lack of interest shall we say when they were in school, theres nothing stopping them from trying again and getting into uni the same way as everybody else, by working hard! well at least thats how it should be! I would also like to point out that article 28 of the UNCRC points out that children and young people have the right to primary education and this should be free. the UNCRC is applicable for up to 18years. much love
Hi Yasmin. Thanks for your comment. I didn’t know UNCRC has officially labled primary education as a right. That’s interesting. I think I would agree with that assessment, but when it comes to 18+ and university, I think it’s about time we started paying, and giving back to society. We are adults after all! I guess the UN would agree with me?! haha
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