Let's Talk Education

As we wind down to the end of the semester, there are more than enough concerns for college students. The stress of exams, affording books for the next semester, and even more importantly affording to expense one’s education. There are major issues facing collegians are the rise in tuition costs. The tuition at UNC Charlotte has gone up this semester about $1700. I began looking online to see if this has become a major concern of other institution and I was suddenly surprised with my findings.

Tuition has gone up more for public institutions more than private institution for about 32%.  This is extremely shocking because the expectation would be for the private universities and colleges to take the cake in the expense arena. Even more shocking I came across several international articles with collegians facing the same challenges of affordability with the rise in tuition. It is a known fact that a college education is extremely important in today’s market and economy, so we work vigorously to find the monies to be able to continue our dedication for a higher education. It can become very frustrating, which brings me to this very interesting article found published by the New York Times.

British Students were furious with the sharply rising tuitions fees. Mentioned by a French writer, British aren’t really known for demonstrating. “They simply don’t believe in it”. November 10, 2010 students apparently had reached their boiling points. They took to the streets in excess of tens of thousands of students and were very vocal and physical by vandalizing Conservative Party Headquarters.

This is extremely disturbing because I don’t think, we as a student should be forced to react so angrily with fighting for our tuition costs.  It’s completely understandable that our fees are steadily on the rise, simply because the costs of everything in this economy has taken a substantial increase. The questions we pose have to do with the benefit to us as students. We want to continue our education so we can be positive contributions to society, but the financial burdens are becoming unaffordable, discouraging, and at times impossible. Will there ever be changes? It no longer local it’s international, and collectively we feel frustrated and defeated. Do we truly have a voice? If so, who is listening?