THE POLITICS of FREE EDUCATION in the SOCIETY

The issue of whether Education should be free for the citizens or not has been a controversial one in many countries in the world. Many people share the believe that since Education is a social service that is meant to eradicate illiteracy and ensures comfortable and successful living in the society, it should be free for the citizens. It is therefore not surprising that politicians in many countries often put free Education in their manifestoes / programmes to woo the gullible masses. However, there is the issue of equity and egalitarianism. Money being used to fund free Education are derived from tax on the citizens. When only selected individuals in the educational system are enjoying these taxes, what of those outside educational institutions like those in apprenticeship, the roadside mechanics, drivers among others. Would it therefore not amount to injustice?

Another argument against free education is the fact that anything that is free has less value. People value greatly what they have expended money on or laboured to acquire. It is believed that free education makes Pupils / Students to be unserious in school and encourages automatic promotions thus lowering quality at the expense of quantity.

There is no doubt that Government is the major financier of Education in most countries of the world today. It is becoming evident that Education is a yoke for Government to bear more so that many sectors are competing with Education for the available funds. Free Education thus constitutes additional burden for government of those Countries that encourage it.

In the light of the foregoing, for qualitative education to be achieved, people should pay for the education of their children. However, to alleviate the hardship in the society, fee should be minimal i.e. according to the situation in each country and the income of workers. Government should continue to award scholarships and bursaries to assist the less priviledge pupils / students in the society