Beyond school the student should qualify for higher education on merit. And by and large, the tax payer should fund that; it's an investment in the future of the nation.
I think more people should be in higher education than was the case when I was there; but I also think having a target of 50% of people in higher education was the wrong way to go about it. Emphasising increased funding for a strategic balance of subjects might have been a better way to go. Note balance; although I'm a scientist, I think the arts are important too, and even "light-weight" subjects have value so long as it's not everyone that's doing them. We don't want thousands of experts on the navel fluff of the Egyptian Pharaoh, but having a few probably enriches us all. (Hope I haven't offended any Egyptian Pharaoh navel fluff experts...)
no subject
I think more people should be in higher education than was the case when I was there; but I also think having a target of 50% of people in higher education was the wrong way to go about it. Emphasising increased funding for a strategic balance of subjects might have been a better way to go. Note balance; although I'm a scientist, I think the arts are important too, and even "light-weight" subjects have value so long as it's not everyone that's doing them. We don't want thousands of experts on the navel fluff of the Egyptian Pharaoh, but having a few probably enriches us all. (Hope I haven't offended any Egyptian Pharaoh navel fluff experts...)