There’s been much concern in the British press recently about how Higher Education is to be funded in future, especially in England but, there is a knock-on effect elsewhere in the UK. However, what isn’t being discussed is what is meant as “education” and what is “life long learning” and how that is to be paid for or funded.
I believe that between the ages of 5 and 18 – formal education and the “right to education” -should be free to the user and paid for out of general taxation. This does mean changing the school leaving age from 16 to 18 and reviewing what is taught during those ages.
From the age of 18 is what I term the start of “lifelong learning” as the type and level of courses you choose to study are personal, life-style changes and are no longer a “right”. It’s where you are free to pick and choose what type of further education or learning you want to do, at any time in the rest of your life.
I argue that this “education” or “lifelong learning” should be provided free of cost to the user at the time of study. It doesn’t matter who the provider is: university; college; school-based evening classes; independent distance learning colleges; companies like ICS Learn or Pitman Training. You can “pick n mix” what type of courses you study, at whatever level of study you want, from any provider you want and the costs of these courses are paid for by general taxation. There should be no time limit on when you start these courses. You don’t need to start a “university-type” course straight after leaving school. You can start one in your fifties or sixties and it’d still be free. You can start a “training course” or “interest” one at any age and it’d be free. It’s a fundamental, radical change in what we think of as “education”. It means taking the blinkers off and giving people the freedom to “educate” (or learn or self-improvement) at any time in their lives. This would be “fair” to everyone.
However, this is not an option that anyone is putting on the table. Everyone is still thinking in terms of the current structures and how these should be paid for.
On that basis then, whether you take the option to go to university straight after school, do a training course to improve technical skills, or undertake a course in conversational mandarin, means taking the responsibility to pay for it. None of these are offered free of charge. Payment should be made either up front at the start of the course or, month by month for the agreed period of study (e.g. 6 months, 12 months, 3 years) at an agreed payment rate. It’s called ‘pay as you study’.
Some people may be excused from paying full costs because of their specific circumstances (unemployed, disability) and therefore, qualify for discounts. But, everyone should be paying something. Paying course fees should not be delayed until you’re older or earning a specific amount. Doing so means that someone else is paying meantime. That is “not fair”!
Given the current system and having the ability to make that life choice means you, as an individual, have to make a contribution to the costs of any course, at any level, that you choose to do, as and when you study.
I do have a university degree but I paid for it as I studied, and I don’t see why other people shouldn’t do the same until we change the entire system.
N.B. This article was originally written on 10th December and has been revised today.
