‘It takes only 8 years to graduating of university, isn’t it so fast. Ha ha ha’. This saying criticizes these days university tuition issue. Although, we have to take 8semesters for graduating. It just takes 4 years actually. but because of huge expensive entrance tuition, students have to make their money after each semester and resister semester after next. According to research, more than 80% Korea university students have ever been pressed about tuition and more than 30% students of seoul universities take our loans to make tuition. It doesn’t make sense. Education is not the member of market principle.
Education is public service. According to Constitution, a nation has the right of education. And education is not just for individual but it can be helpful for society. because educated people are the engines of future social progress. So it shouldn’t be left to the market.
People who against half-price tuition maintain it is form of populism which is not realistic policy but just for getting interest from nation as politic purpose. They think it is impossible to half-price tuition by present national finance. To do this, government collect taxes from nation, it will be burden to nation again. It is possible. but it is not best way. Collect tax is not the only way to half-price tuition. We already pay taxes, so use it. For example, repealing the tax cuts for the rich feed is one of the ways. : tax cut for the rich feed is 90 trillion in Korea.
Some people think education is option. They said that our nation, Korea, is applying compulsory education until middle school, so university is out of responsibility of government. but in Korea, is it matter of personal choice weather enter university or not? Actually in Korea, university has been recognized as a course of getting a job. Furthermore entrance rate of university is 80%. Graduating of university is connected directly to getting job. So education is not just option as social atmosphere in Korea.
Public service should be universal. So everyone should have an education opportunity regardless of their parent’s economic power. Especially, society makes silent oppression that a university education is essential. In this situation, entrance tuition burden which make debtor students is not a big fuss and half-price tuition is also not just political demand. This demand is natural and government actualized it by viable alternative.