Ahead of Wednesday’s Free Education demonstration in central London, and despite its withdrawal from the event, the National Union of Students has released its Roadmap for Free Education.
We take a look at 10 reasons free education supporters use to say why it should happen:
Free education reasons
Education shouldn't cost the student(01 of10)
Education costs money, but the idea of free education is that the cost is not directly incurred by those benefiting from it. Costs and prices for education must be removed, the NUS argues, as the first step on the road to free education. (credit:Martin Hospach via Getty Images)
A degree isn't a product to be purchased(02 of10)
Once costs incurred by those benefitting from education have been removed, alongside nominal prices ‘charged’ by institutions, the current transactional relationship between students and institutions can be broke down. Only then, the NUS says, will the view that a degree is a product to be purchased come to an end. (credit:Carlina Teteris via Getty Images)
It will promote fairness(03 of10)
If, on average, graduates earn more than non-graduates, the amount they pay in general taxation will be more than those who do not attend university. Put simply, a successful graduate’s contribution to their education costs increases at the same time as their contribution as a taxpayer. A double-blow for those graduating from universities under the current fee structures. (credit:Yuji Sakai via Getty Images)
Businesses can pay for it(04 of10)
The founding of the historic red-brick universities by wealthy industrialists is contrasted starkly with today’s corporate culture and what the NUS says is a relatively low tax obligation on the part of big business. Increasing contributions from big business would help pay for public education. (credit:Andy Roberts via Getty Images)
It will end repayment inequality(05 of10)
The reforms to tuition fees increased the repayment threshold to £21,000, but interest is accrued whether you’re paying off the debt or not. So if someone earns below the threshold for a long time, before eventually earning above £21k, they may well pay back more than someone who goes straight into a well-paying job after graduating. (credit:Kaneko Ryo via Getty Images)
It allows graduates to contribute more to the economy(06 of10)
If they’re paying off student debt for decades, the ability for graduates to contribute to the economy through disposable income is reduced. (credit:Raphye Alexius via Getty Images)
It’s happening in Europe(07 of10)
The Nordic countries have a successful free education system which includes postgraduate study. In Norway and Finland, free education is extended to international students from outside the EU. And Germany has just abolished fees in all its states. (credit:Henrik Sorensen via Getty Images)
The cost is far from unreasonable(08 of10)
The money government currently puts aside to cancel unpaid student debt can be immediately saved in a fee-free system, and a staggered introduction of free education would spread the cost over three years. And, the NUS says, a fair contribution from big business would more than cover the additional public investment in higher education. (credit:stocknshares via Getty Images)
Scotland already does it(09 of10)
Scotland’s example allows government to predict the response to free education in England. It has institutions of similar international standing, and is open to EU students. The NUS says Scotland has proved that any increase in demand can be modest and manageable. (credit:Chris Close via Getty Images)
Free education could cost the government less than it thinks(10 of10)
Combined with a move away from the most expensive mode of higher education – the three-year degree studied away from home – free education could cost government less than previously thought. (credit:Thomas Barwick via Getty Images)
You can read the NUS’s full report: A Roadmap for Free Education here.