Students all across the world have always wanted to enjoy the benefits of free education. Due to various factors, most especially financial constraints, some families prefer their children to participate in free educational programs.
In the United States, according to a 2019 Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics research, 51% of Americans aged 18 to 29 support tuition-free colleges and institutions (CNBC, 2019).
Another research revealed that 63% of US respondents support free public college, with 37% strongly supporting the concept (Pew Research Center, 2020).
Education is regarded as essential, which is one of the reasons why it should be treated as such. Students at various levels of study see free education as an opportunity.
According to a Bankrate poll of 1,000 individuals conducted in late July 2016, 62% of Americans support making public college tuition free for everyone who wants to enroll.
In this article, we will be discussing the types of education, the essentials of education, the benefits of free education, and lots more. Firstly, what is education, and what are the types of education?
Table of Contents
Education and its Types
According to the oxford dictionary, education is an enlightening experience. It is the process of receiving or giving systematic instructions, especially at a school or university. Education can be of three types.
Below are the three types of education:
1. Formal education:
It is a structured education system ranging from primary school (or nursery school in some countries) to university. It involves standardized programs for occupational, technical, and professional training.
2. Non-formal education:
It is an organized personal and social education program for young people with the sole aim of improving their range of activities and skill sets outside the formal education syllabus.
3. Informal education:
It is a lifetime learning process by which an individual builds up attitude, values, skills, and knowledge from the educational influences of his or her environment as well as from everyday experiences.
Before delving into the benefits of free education, it is important to understand how free education is funded.
How is Free Education Funded?
Government-based free education is sponsored by taxes or other charitable groups, whereas free education at universities is paid for by tuition and philanthropic organizations like the school’s alumni union. Now, let’s discuss the benefits of free education.
Benefits of Free Education at a Glimpse
Below are 10 benefits of free education:
- Better access to education
- It enhances the society
- It enhances civilization
- It enhances the right to leadership
- A more educated workforce would exist
- Emphasis will be solely on education
- Increased happiness and health
- Reduced student debt levels
- It helps in timely future planning
- Decrease in crime rate.
Benefits of Free education:
1. Better Access to Education
As there is a substantial barrier to education owing to high tuition fees, there are numerous opportunities for the general public in free education if they are not compelled to pay for it.
According to studies, many of the world’s brightest minds come from low-income families, but this should not prevent them from furthering their education. If everyone had an equal opportunity to attend school, no one would have an excuse not to go.
2. It Enhances the Society
Every country has a ranking of her literacy level and it is often recognized as a land of opportunity on this basis. As a result of this, governments in many nations developed free educational programs to raise and improve those nations’ literacy rates.
Furthermore, free education reduces the average wage gap and social tensions associated with income gaps. This implies that free education improves social cohesion.
3. It Enhances Civilization
Well-educated people are believed to have the skill set to address issues more effectively, and this makes civilization advance at a faster rate.
Education not only enhances an individual’s personality, but it also affects society and helps it become more civilized. As educated citizens, they learn to follow the values and keep their community together via education and it makes them grounded and committed to their standards.
4. It Enhances the Right to Leadership
Free education gives everyone access to education. This also means that positions of authority won’t be limited to a selected few since education is a considerable criterion in choosing a leader.
Additionally, it is essential for intellectual, social, and political survival as educated people can better understand their society’s past and current economic problems. As a result, people may be more willing to participate in politics and help their country.
5. A More Educated Workforce Would Exist
As more people gain free access to education, the number of people available for high-skilled occupations grows.
This means that more people will enter the workforce and this will potentially narrow down the wealth disparity between the upper, middle, and lower classes.
Free education will also lower the unemployment rate and reduce the number of people on government assistance.
6. Emphasis will Be Solely On Education
Some students have to pay off their tuition fees and expenses all by themselves. In this case, the students have to work part-time to make ends meet. While doing this, their studies may have to suffer as they would have to find work ahead of time and worry less about debt repayment.
7. Increased Happiness and Health
Education makes individuals and communities happier, and it has a good impact on countries. Since 2002, Umea University researchers surveyed 15,000 people in 25 countries every two years and discovered that when governments encourage higher educational attainment, their residents are happier and healthier.
A 2015 study found a direct correlation between student loans and poor psychological functioning, implying that there will be a greater impact in later life regarding career choices and health.
As a result, free education poise a great effect on individuals, and society at large in increasing their happiness and health.
8. Reduced Student Debt Levels
Student debt is one of the worst types of debt because it frequently requires high fees and has some additional drawbacks. In general, free education would relieve students of the financial strain that comes with large amounts of student debt.
As a result, alleviating students this debt makes life much easier for them because they can use their money for other important things.
9. It Helps in Timely Future Planning
Education is an important pathway to high-paying jobs. According to Malcolm X, education is the passport to the future. To this day, most organizations require formal education if you want to be a leader in those organizations.
Also, it is easier to be a blessing to your family if you have a good job. As a result, education can be regarded as one of the most important steps in preparing yourself for your future life.
With free education, more people can obtain a degree, and their overall chances in life improve significantly.
10. Decrease in Crime Rate
Free education lowers the tendency to commit crimes as poverty is a huge cause of the crime rate. Juveniles (legally defined as teenagers under the age of 18) account for 19% of all violent criminal offenses in the United States.
However, the prime age for violent offenders is 18, which falls within the teenage age range. Free education will not give these teenagers an excuse not to be in school and rather than criminal thoughts running through their minds, they are busy with assignments, projects, and other school activities.
Conclusively, the society we’re in places a high value on education, and free education will play an important role in placing them on the path to self-fulfillment.
Education will never let you down but will enable you to achieve success. It will also aid in the development of abilities that will be useful for the rest of your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the types of education?
Formal, informal, and non-formal education.
How is free education funded?
Government-based free education is sponsored by taxes or other charitable groups, whereas free education at universities is paid for by tuition and philanthropic organizations like the school's alumni union.
Is formal education the same thing as non-formal education?
No! Non-formal education is an organized personal and social education program for young people with the sole aim of improving their range of activities and skillset outside the formal education syllabus while informal education is a lifetime learning process by which an individual builds up attitude, values, skills, and knowledge from the educational influences of his or her environment as well as from everyday experiences.
Does education increases happiness and health?
Yes.
Is free education worth it?
Education will never let you down and will enable you to achieve success. This also aids in the development of abilities that will be useful for the rest of your life.
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Conclusion
All of the above considerations demonstrate the benefits of free education in the modern day. In today’s society, people’s standing is determined not by their clothing or financial situation, but by the information they learn and the degrees they possess.
Free education will help you change yourself and the world around you. When you learn something new, you share it with your friends and family.
Greater information sharing throughout the population helps society and makes individuals more aware of what is going on in the world. Thus, free education will help you in making the world a better place to live.
