Education investments improve global standing
In this day and age, we live in a cruel economy where even a college degree doesn’t guarantee a decent job. It’s also said that a strong economy will find a place for all specialties. And therein lies the root of this conundrum. A strong economy will open opportunities for students of all studies, but a well educated population is typically a requirement for a strong economy.
There’s only one answer to this problem: Invest in our education system. We can begin with improving access, cost and curricula of higher education. Congress and the winner of the 2012 election must find time to improve our country’s universities. To this end, we need to expand college opportunity through improvement in financial aid and at the home-front in public high schools.
Although two-thirds of Americans oppose spending cuts to education, more than those that oppose cuts to defense, social security or Medicare, nearly 90% of Americans don’t support spending more on education if it means paying more taxes. To those people, a wake-up call is needed. America has fallen behind its competitors in reading, math and science literacy according to the Program for International Student Assessment. In fact, the United States was below average in this test, and on average, 17 nations of the 34 tested scored better than us.
If we want to be the powerhouse we like to imagine ourselves, increased support in education must be enacted. It’s the surest way to solidify global competitiveness, cash in economic returns, create and improve jobs and revive the middle class.