The Affordability and the Costs of School Affecting Student Life
Students around the world have recently been discussing the affordability of school and how it has been affecting their student life while considering ideas on how the cost of school could be lowered.
“It was January. I was working two jobs,” said Kurt Mennie, a student at Coventry University in England about not being able to pay for school. “Whilst at university and I still wasn’t able to make ends meet.”
Education affordability has always been a concern. Mennie is a student like many others who struggles to pay for his education. He said his university does not do enough to expose its resources to reach students. While there may be some funding as in scholarships and programs, they are not well advertised for students.
“It’s very difficult for me,” Mennie said. “Because what the course costs is actually more than I get through student finance.” He has already completed his undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma. He is in a one-year master’s degree course taking 180 credits.
Student finance through Coventry University does not give him enough funds to be able to pay for the course completely. He is concerned he may not be able to afford school and must balance school and work to be able to continue with his education.
Having to work and go to school takes its toll on academics as students must balance their priorities to get ahead. The case for many students who are seeking higher education.
Unlike Coventry University, the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, India has a lot of students who are doing well. Most students come from privileged backgrounds most but not all come from privileged backgrounds.
“Fortunately, I come from a decent background,” said Akshit Chawla, a student at the Asian College of Journalism who is studying New Media Journalism. “So, my family has been pretty good and paying the fees without any issues.”
Although it may be true that many students are doing well, there are still students who are struggling. Chawla said that his friend Namrata was not as fortunate. “Her parents did not have a lot of money to pay the fee, and he had to pay the fee immediately,” said Chawla. “They took money from their relatives and their friends and everyone contributed and that was how she was able to come to college.” Students at the Asian College of Journalism cannot work and go to school simultaneously. Students who go to the university must strictly attend school.
“It’s not possible for us to work at all,” said Chawla. “Because school is from morning to finally five or six in the afternoon.”
Working while attending school is not an option for the students at this school made it harder for students from low-income families to go to college. The fees have been viewed as high, and it can harm students’ futures if they do not get enough funding through the school.
Situations like hers are not uncommon. Many students must ask family and friends to help fund their education when there is no other way. At California State University, Fresno, in the United States. Some students argue that the university’s administration should use students’ tuition money to benefit the student body, staff, and professors.
“I think for a lot of people it can be unaffordable.” Said Dillon Parsons, a second-year student at California State University, Fresno studying media, communications, and journalism.
Parsons said he is concerned that the cost is hurting his education as he attempts to balance his priorities.
“I don’t think that there’s that much access to resources,” Mennie said as he concludes his take on his personal experience as a student at Coventry University.