Introduction
Australia is known for its extended opportunities for students from different parts of the world. Students are welcome to choose any level of education. If they are interested in tertiary education, they should know that more than 40 tertiary education institutions are available to people in Australia.
Evaluation of the Australian System of Education
The Government of Australia develops special programs that provide international students with an opportunity to become the Australian permanent residents and use their chances to study in Australia “Enrolment of Non-Australian Citiens 2). Potential students have to apply to a special visa first of all. There are several sectors of Visa that can be eligible for the international students: Higher Education Sector Visa (573 subclass), Postgraduate Research Sector Visa (574 subclass), Independent ELICOS Sector Visa (570 subclass) (Australian Government par. 2).
German Example
Recently, Germany has offered an idea of free education for all native citizens and international students. Regarding such attempt and the absence of evident shortages, many countries believe that they can also follow the same example (Kehm par. 1). Still, the representatives of the German educational system continue to analyze and gather the material to identify if free education may compensate the presence of higher education for international students with time.
Australian Government about Free Education
- Negative: There is no such truth as free education (Thomson par. 1) because money should be spent on the building, educational equipment, books, laboratories, etc. that cannot be free. The abolishment of fees can promote the development of inequality of the institutions due to the lack of supply (Pitman and Forsyth par. 15).
- Negative: The work of teachers and other institutions’ employees should be paid, and the government should think where they have to take money from to cover such “free” opportunities
- Positive: Free education may attract the attention of more international students, who can become good workforce for the country.
- Positive: More countries recognize Australia as a powerful country with a number of opportunities for their students
Free Education: Economic Perspectives
- Australia’s economy has already undergone considerable changes (Jericho par.1) and become a powerful and competitive nation (the country has proved itself as an effective state with a certain government that can use its forces in a right way);
- Educated workforce is a kind of economic imperative (Students start learning the material and use their knowledge regardless their financial statuses so that the level of unemployment can be considerably decreased);
- Education is the best investment the government can make (The government invests in people, and people are used for work in different industries that require development, recognition, and improvement);
Attention to knowledge and talents that can be used by the country (The incomes of people do not matter, and true abilities and knowledge are appreciated).
Free Education: What People Think about It
Education is the best way to provide people with equal opportunities (as soon as people have the same start, they can develop their skills with the same opportunities, and the weakest representatives can be identified in order to train them more or try to change the sphere of education as soon as possible).
Fees can no longer limit students from poor families (there are so many poor children, who cannot develop their skills because of the inabilities to pay for education. Free education is a chance to discover new talents that can promote the development of the country with time).
A true worth of education can be realized only when it is available to all people regardless their race, age, gender, financial incomes, and other discriminative factors (some students do not appreciate their chances to get their education, and some students cannot get the opportunities they are dreaming about. Free education is a gift that should be offered to everyone because all people are equal).
Works Cited
Australian Government. “Studying in Australia.” n.d. Web.
Enrolment of Non-Australian Citizens Procedures and Eligibility. n.d. PDF file. Web.
Jericho, Greg. “Government’s Low Blow on Higher Education.” ABC. 2014. Web.
Kehm, Barbara. “How Germany Managed to Abolish University Tuition Fees.” The Conversation. 2014. Web.
Pitman, Tim and Hannah Forsyth. “Should We Follow the German Way of Free Higher Education?” The Conversation. 2014. Web.
Thomson, Vicki. “Free Education Never Existed.” The Australian. 2015. Web.