The American educational system is designed to offer a rich field of studies to both local and international scholars. There are numerous academic programs and colleges available for potential learners to choose from. The structure of the American education system entails early educational programs, primarily known as elementary school, middle school, high school, and tertiary education or post-secondary studies (Smith et al. 189). It is designed to equip learners with the ability to achieve their full potential. Furthermore, the approach to learning followed in the U.S. instills creativity, productivity, as well as moral skills that are necessary for individual and societal development (Smith et al. 189). Moreover, a college degree is essential because it allows the graduates to live healthier and become civically engaged in society. Additionally, college graduates are opportune for good-paying employments and enjoy better job security. Nevertheless, college education needs further improvement by lowering the cost, emphasizing technical skills, as well as introducing feeding programs and online studies to improve the experience of the learners.
First, the high cost of a college education should be reduced to increase the enrolment of students. Notably, education in colleges is too expensive for many potential customers to afford. For instance, in the academic year 2018/2019, colleges charged high tuition fees averaging $ 10,230 and $26290 for the state residents and international students, respectively (Oduma et al. 107). The amount charged presently is much higher than what middle and low-income-earning citizens can afford to pay. It is, therefore, necessary for the government to consider lowering the cost of a college education since it would ensure equal learning opportunities for all students. Furthermore, numerous European countries are advancing to make education affordable to all citizens by reducing tuition fees (Oduma et al. 107). In the U.S., lowering the prices will ensure a high transition from high school to collages at least by 80%. It is important to note that many students are longing for a college education; thus, reducing tuition fees will enable them to achieve their dreams of advancing their education.
Additionally, e-learning should be introduced in college education to help reduce the high cost of learning. The traditional student-lecturer contact mode of learning that is widely practiced in colleges involves a lot of financial implications on learners. Studying online allows students to work from home, thus saving money for the room as well as boarding fees. There would be no need for students to pay for services that they do not directly benefit from, such as the recreational facilities in the colleges (Oduma et al. 101). Moreover, the amount of money they spent on traveling from home to school daily will also be reduced. Online learning is also flexible because it allows to learn at a convenient time and engage in other income-generating activities. It is high time for colleges in the United States to embrace online learning that would help students and parents reduce the cost of education and increase the time devoted to learning.
Preferably, the system of college education needs to embrace alternative pathways that focus on enhancing technical skills as demanded by most hiring companies. Most current programs emphasize science and theory, thus limiting the practical potential of the learners, as many do not acquire the skills that employing companies require (Lehner and John 131). HR managers mostly recruit individuals who can handle both the dynamic and complex duties owing to their skills acquired from technical studies. Therefore, U.S. colleges should adopt programs that will equip the students with additional practical skills relevant to the competitive job market. Particularly, they should be diversified to cooperate vocationally and meet the general workplace needs required on today’s rapidly evolving job market (Lehner and John 131). The necessary skills will be acquired through organized student internship programs in which they will be capable of sourcing corporate communication, customer service system, and effective leadership alongside human resource management knowledge. The experience acquired will equip learners to fit in the job markets and increase their career opportunities. It is of great importance that the American educational system embraces technical skill-based programs demanded by the competitive job market.
Furthermore, a feeding program in colleges to assist the vulnerable student population should be established. In modern educational institutions, one out of 3 learners experiences food insecurity and lives below the poverty line; in addition, the first-generation students and those of color in colleges are at high risk of food insecurity, which impacts their academics and reduces their chances of graduating (Camelo and Marta 308). Currently, most learners are excluded from the federal nutrition assistance programs since they are assumed to be supported by their families. Comprehensive government education policies approach to be enacted to address college student hunger situation. Such programs as the Supplemental Nutrition Association Program (SNAP) that only prioritize feeding the unemployed population should also be extended to encompass the vulnerable college student population (Camelo and Marta 308). Remarkably, good nutrition will enable the student to attend the classes more frequently due to ensuring better health conditions. Furthermore, consuming a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals improves the body’s immune system, thus protecting from diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. Enabling a feeding program has a significant impact not only on academic performance but also on general wellbeing.
College programs to be federal control to help standardize and unify the courses. The educational system has long local affairs influence since they are state-regulated with 50 different curriculum standards set by the respective local authorities. Federalization would help reduce the discrepancies and variation in the courses witnessed throughout states; therefore, it is the responsibility of the state collages boards to refine and improve on the contents creating the difference that is largely witnessed in the market pool (Salgado et al. 97). The variation, as seen different companies preferring the graduates from specific collages following the extra-skills believed they portray in the job places. For instance, the business management courses record many local and foreign enrollment in specific colleges (Salgado et al. 97). The colleges such as Harvard school of business, Stanford graduate school of business, and Columbia Business School have recorded thousands of applicants, which is not the case with other colleges offering the same programs in the business field. Therefore, there is an immediate need by the education sector to standardize the programs offered in college, which can only be effectively done by centralizing the control over the educational sector.
In conclusion, the American education system is among the best globally, and it has contributed to the development of the economy and individuals’ productivity. Colleges are entrusted with the responsibility of improving learners’ participation in the development of the country. Many graduates have the opportunity to access good-paying jobs and live a better life. However, the high cost of a college education is a great concern that needs to be addressed to provide the opportunity for all American children to further their education. Additionally, colleges should concentrate on building technical skills to match employment demands and improve students’ participation in the economy. Remarkably, feeding programs in colleges will largely assist vulnerable students who are missing their classes and recording poor performance due to anger. Healthy nutrition will ensure better health and excellent academic results.
Works Cited
Camelo, Karen, and Marta Elliott. “Food Insecurity and Academic Achievement among College Students at a Public University in the United States.” Journal of College Student Development, vol.60, no.3, 2019, pp. 307-318.
Lehner, Edward, and John R. Ziegler. “Paradise Found? The Disruption and Diversification of Funding in Higher Education.” Architectures and Frameworks for Developing and Applying Blockchain Technology. IGI Global, 2019, pp. 129-144.
Oduma, Chriatian A., Lizzy Nkem Onyema, and Ndidi Akiti. “E-learning Platforms in Business Education for Skill Acquisition.” Nigerian Journal of Business Education (NIGJBED), vol.6, no.2, 2019, pp.104-112.
Salgado, Jesús F., Santiago Blanco, and Silvia Moscoso. “Subjective Well-Being and Job Performance: Testing of a Suppressor Effect.” Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, vol.35, no.2, 2019, pp.93-102.
Smith, Robert A., et al. “Cancer Screening in the United States, 2019: A Review of Crrent American Cancer Society Guidelines and Current Issues in Cancer Screening.” CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, vol.69, no.3, 2019, pp.184-210.