Currently, universities have been commodifying higher education based on its

rankings, quality and resources and higher education is what students are

investing on to improve their lives and prospects. Some believes that higher

education should be commodified as it maintains the quality of skilled graduates;

however, some argues that the commodification of higher education causes

problems of inequality, such as accessibility, in many developed countries. Due

to these problems, a free tertiary education policy is proposed as the solution. On

the contrary, this solution will inflict another problem of inequality in terms of

unfair allocation of students in the universities. Therefore, an alternative,

potential solution is needed.

By having a free tertiary education policy, it may solve a problem of inequality in

regards to the poorer individuals. Nonetheless, this policy, ironically, causes

another problem of inequality in terms of unfair allocation to unqualified students

instead of qualified ones. This policy opens doors to not only qualified individuals

but also unqualified students. In fact, this solution is not feasible and widens

inequality (Cloete, 2016). The policy will further worsen due to the influx of non-

qualified students; thus, reducing the value of education overtime (Pettinger,

2017). For instance, if any student could major in Medicine despite qualifications,

every student would take education for granted and not be committed to their

attainment. Higher education will not be valued as qualifications are no longer

necessary to enter universities. Subsequently, having non-qualified students

might lead to a decrease in skilled graduates in the long run.

Consequently, an alternative, potential solution to counter the problems of

inequality is by providing scholarships and financial assistance schemes that are

targeted to poorer, yet qualified students. The scholarships and schemes should

be funded by the government to reduce the school fees for poorer students.

More scholarships and schemes should be available in poorer provinces or states.

This solution is more effective as it targets and narrows down to solving

affordability for poorer individuals and maintaining the intake of students who

are qualified to enter universities, rather than allowing accessibility to

unqualified students.

All in all, a free tertiary education policy is an ineffective solution as it allows

accessibility to any individual who may be unqualified to attain higher education

which then leads to unfair allocation to unqualified students instead of qualified

ones into universities. Hence, a better solution, such as providing scholarships

and financial assistance schemes, should be in place as it focuses in providing

equality for poorer, yet qualified individuals. This solution will reduce the

problems of inequality and additionally, maintain the value of education; thus,

having more skilled graduates in the long run. With more skilled graduates,

graduates talents and qualifications provide opportunities for nations to

continue to prosper.