Higher Education is a most worthy goal. But like so many other worthy goals, (i.e. helping the poor and sick) greed and corruption eventually creep in and profiteering becomes the main purpose.
I have often railed about
just the cost of books alone, when they can be provided at basically zero cost on an e-reader (after authors have been properly paid for their value, of course).
Perhaps Apple will change that: Apple launches interactive textbook program
http://www.washburnr...78#.T0ElBvXch3o
"The latest product rollout is a three fold approach to bringing Apple's 21st century brand of educational technology into the classroom. In what is a move hauntingly similar to when Apple gave the masses iTunes, iBooks 2 is an approach to educational textbooks that could lessen the need for voluminous backpack filling weights lugged around by students."
Around here, if there are any new big construction projects under development, they are most likely to be Casinos, Medical facilities and "Higher Education" facilities.
It's amazing that the "99%" will protest evil Big Oil or Wall Street, but continue to enslave themselves to a lifetime of student loan debt without the least thought about the greed in Big Education.
Perhaps another bubble preparing to deflate?
From "across the pond":
Teenagers turn their backs on a university education
Impact of tuition fee increases is felt
Courses to close and redundancies loom as applications plummet
Universities have suffered the steepest fall in applications since records began, with the total number of students seeking places this autumn plummeting by 8.7 per cent as the true impact of tuition fee increases is felt.
In all, there are 43,473 fewer applications for degree courses starting in autumn 2012 than there were last year.
Martin Freedman, of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "We are deeply concerned that many potential students are being put off applying and their career prospects will be damaged as a result. The fall in applicants also has worrying implications for universities' finances now that ... most of their funding is due to come from students rather than the Government."
Edited by Rogerdodger, 19 February 2012 - 11:54 AM.