Danish students receive government funding, on top of free tuition (Lawrence, 2017). Here in Canada, we receive government grants (if we apply, and are eligible) on top of heavy debt. For Canadians to attend post-secondary, they must put their lives and their mental health on pause.
Free tuition is good because students are struggling, and it is not being talked about enough. Education is the path to a reliable income, for example, “British Columbians with an undergraduate post-secondary degree can expect to earn an additional $827,000 over their lifetime” (Davison, 2017).
Focusing on funding ones’ education puts a hold on the lives of not only the student, but their family and significant others as well. It puts a hold on health, travelling, investing, saving and family planning. Attending post-secondary is a huge commitment.
My 27-year-old sister wants to go to post-secondary. She has a toddler, a house mortgage and a wedding come September. With both her and her fiancé working as much as they can, while also parenting, it is near impossible for her to attend school. She wants to better herself, and give her family a better life, but it isn’t possible right now.
According to an article by the Vancouver Sun, “we’re not taking care of our education system in B.C. There is rust and there are cracks. I genuinely wish the mentality of ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps,’ ‘keep your head down and work hard’ were enough, but they’re not. Here’s why: Tuition has skyrocketed, many students hold multiple jobs but can’t make ends meet and the average student debt is $35,000” (2017).
Tuition is not the only expense. Going to post-secondary comes with living expenses, rent, groceries and car insurance. Having free tuition and free education takes off a layer of added stress. Free tuition does not mean free rent, groceries or car insurance. Having free education allows students to focus more on their education, rather than rushing through class to get to work and make a living.
Another reason why I hope for free tuition in Canada is the relationship between mental illness and financial struggles. According to Statistics Canada, “those affected with mental illness may not be able to cope with the simplest aspects of everyday life” (2017). The first few words in a Global News article regarding mental illness are ‘you know the millennials predicaments: student debt…’ (Chai, 2017).
High tuition costs create more than just financial stresses. According to the Vancouver Sun, “65 per cent of students have felt overwhelming anxiety; and 44 per cent have felt so depressed that they’ve had difficulty functioning” (Davison, 2017).
This goes to show that studies have been done, and financial issues such as student debt and fees are at fault for the poor mental health of some students. Putting life on hold for 2, 4 or even 8 years to afford post-secondary is not an option for everyone, and ignoring ones’ mental health is not ideal. Free tuition would make education a possibility.
References:
Chai, C. (2017). Why more Canadian millennials than ever are at ‘high risk’ of mental health issues. Global News. Retrieved on February 15th from https://globalnews.ca/news/3417600/why-more-canadian-millennials-than-ever-are-at-high-risk-of-mental-health-issues/
Davison, G. A. (2017). Opinion: The true cost of B.C.’s post-secondary education. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved on February 15th from http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-the-true-cost-of-b-c-s-post-secondary-education
Lawrence, D. (2017). Free university tuition with a side of salary, please. The Globe And Mail. Retrieved on February 14th from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/canadian-university-report/free-university-tuition-with-a-side-of-salary-please/article32408409/
(2017) Mental illness. Statistics Canada. Retrieved on February 14th from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/about-mental-illness.html
I really liked reading your piece and I think you have some good arguments for your opinion. I am from Sweden and we have free tuition and I am really happy about that, because as you have written it seems like a huge problem with the high tuition fees in Canada. One reason though why both Sweden and Denmark can have free tuition is because we have one of the highest taxes in the world. I am not saying that it is better or worse, but it is one reason why we don’t have to pay tuition fee, since we in one way pay our entire life for privileges such as free education. But I totally agree with you, the tuition fees are way too high in Canada and it should be possible to lower them for the health of the students. / Amanda
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that this isn't talked about enough. The point you make about how it effects not only the student but everyone around them to is really good. I am all for free tuition but I believe that if this were to happen they would need to implement it slowly and very methodically.
ReplyDeleteI love that you brought up the issue of putting your mental health on hold. School itself is stressful without the worry of paying back debt. For those of us who may need to take a mental break for a day or two, it's not always possible because we are paying so much and if we miss classes that is something we can't get back.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you laid out your argument in a logical manner. Though I do not necessarily agree with the idea of free tuition, the points you made were valid and allowed me to empathize with opposing views. That being said, I do not think that it is realistic nor productive to look at every person's individual hardship when discussing tuition. Educational institutions cannot realistically adjust to each person's mental or financial situation. Saying "free education allows students to focus more on their education" perpetuates the narrative that all students have difficulties paying tuition and in many cases, this is not true.
ReplyDeleteI loved your argument emma. I agree that we need to break the stigma surrounding mental health and have a conversation about it. It's hard to manage the stress of school when you have a mental illness. The ability to cope, make it to classes, submit assignments on time are extremely difficult for those afflicted with mental illness. An alternative solution might be better treatment and support for mental health that is easily accessible to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm moving to Sweden.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need to reduce student debt and that it is too high, but that can be prevented if you currently take all the right steps. There are currently lots of scholarships and grants that the government gives out to students. If you manage your financial situation by not taking as many classes at once you will have more time to go to work. This will help earn the money for tuition without racking up a ton of debt. In addition to applying for all the grants and scholarships that you are able to will give you the best chance to get through post-secondary without debt. Plus when you are done your degree/certificate you will be able to get a better job to help you with any debt you have left over.
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