We all benefit from higher education – so why should only students bear the costs? | Brief letters

The argument for who should bear the costs of higher education has been reignited. Rachel Reeves, the Economics viewpoint writer, has pointed out that those who don't attend university are ultimately shouldering the burden for their peers.

But is it truly fair to say that only students paying tuition fees are responsible for this? Or do we all benefit from a well-educated workforce that fuels innovation and drives economic growth? Higher education produces individuals equipped with skills that can be applied in various sectors, ensuring a safer infrastructure, providing better healthcare services, and fueling technological advancements.

It is often overlooked that the benefits of higher education extend beyond the student's lifetime. The educated individual contributes to their country's GDP through improved productivity, generating more tax revenue for public services like infrastructure development. This ripple effect also indirectly benefits those who didn't attend university by creating a more stable and prosperous society.

By redistributing some of these costs from students to taxpayers, we can alleviate the financial burden on future generations and create a more equitable higher education system that rewards everyone's investment in education. Ultimately, it is time for policymakers to consider the broader implications of their decisions and explore alternative solutions to make higher education more accessible while minimizing the financial strain on those who aren't directly benefiting from university.

I think this argument is spot on . People often focus on the cost burden on students, but it's so much bigger than that. We all benefit from a well-educated workforce and the skills they bring to the table . It's like, when you invest in your education, you're not just investing in yourself, but also in society as a whole . By redistributing some of those costs, we can make higher ed more accessible without breaking the bank . Plus, think about all the tax revenue an educated individual can bring to the table – it's like a multiplier effect ! So yeah, I'm totally on board with this idea and hope policymakers take note .

Can you imagine if we didn't have all these fancy engineers & scientists working on tech stuff ? We'd still be using flip phones & driving ourselves around like grandma's times ... but seriously, it's not just about the students paying tuition fees, it's about our collective future! Think about it, every educated person contributes to the economy in a big way . And let's be real, those who don't go to uni are still paying taxes & using public services that we all enjoy ... so why should they have to foot the bill for everyone else? It's time for policymakers to think outside the box (or in this case, the student loan) and come up with a more balanced solution

omg u gotta read this article!!! so like, rachel reeves is saying that people who dont go to uni r paying 4 their friends lol but i think its more than that. didnt we all benefit from education? like, tech advancements and better healthcare and infrastructure... its not just about the person who's paying tuition fees, its about how it affects EVERYONE so yeah, let's rethink this whole "only students pay" thing and get a more equal system lol

The notion that only students paying tuition fees are responsible for shouldering the costs of higher education is a bit simplistic, don't you think? It's like thinking an individual is solely responsible for their own oxygen supply... just as we all breathe in and out, so too do our economy and society rely on the benefits of higher education. We're not just talking about the direct benefits to students themselves, but also to future generations who'll benefit from a more educated workforce and, ultimately, a more prosperous society The idea that it's solely the student's burden is like saying we all have to pay for someone else's air... let's think bigger, shall we?

You know what really gets me? We're always talking about how students should pay for uni, but we never think about all the other benefits that come with having a educated workforce. I mean, have you ever stopped to think about how infrastructure gets built or healthcare services improve without people going into those fields because they can't afford to study there? It's like we're creating a whole new generation of people who are just barely scraping by and can't contribute to society in the same way that their uni-educated peers can. And it's not just about economics, it's about creating a more stable and prosperous society for everyone. So yeah, I think we need to rethink how we're distributing these costs and make sure that everyone is contributing to the system, not just those who have the means to pay for uni

think about it, we all benefit from having skilled ppl in various fields , but only those paying tuition fees are stuck with the bill for now... shouldn't be that unfair? idea is to shift some costs from students to taxpayers, like, it's not just the students who'll pay in the long run, we're all gonna benefit from a more stable society and economy and policymakers need to think about this ripple effect , maybe there's a way to make higher ed more accessible while not breaking the bank for everyone

I think this whole thing is a bit unfair - we all benefit from having more educated people in society , but it feels like only the ones paying tuition fees are shouldering the burden ... I mean, don't get me wrong, student debt is no joke , but at the same time, shouldn't we be looking at how our economy can support a more educated workforce? Like, have you seen all the new startups and innovation hubs popping up everywhere? That's gotta count for something!