Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Higher Education Loads up Students With Debt

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
More back-to-school related coverage of rising (and by now unreasonable) tuitions. "The average undergraduate debt has increased 66 percent, from $11,400 in 1997 to $18,900 in 2002, the survey found. Students attending graduate school borrowed an extra $31,700, up 51 percent (figures in $US)." And this is about as lame as one can get: "Education is very expensive," said Sandy Baum, an economics professor who is co-author of the Nellie Mae survey. "Someone has to pay for it." Well, d'uh. But: does it have to be this expensive? And is it reasonable to demand that students themselves pay this amount? I cannot emphasize this enough: an entire generation is being disenfranchised because they cannot access a basic necessity in today's society. The cost today will seem paltry when compared to the economic devastation sure to follow tomorrow.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: May 04, 2024 12:22 a.m.

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