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  • Will students benefit from Romney's education plan?
  • Posted By:
  • Chris J
  • Posted On:
  • 07-Jun-2012
  • One of the major topics in this presidential election is student debt. As a part of his election campaign, Mitt Romney unveiled a plan that he claims will benefit college students to a great extent. He promises to restore American education by giving every child a chance.

    As we go through the plan, we find that any sensational element is thankfully missing. From our student debt perspective, implications for education will be broken down by the Student Loan Ranger.

    A new normal is suggested in the A Chance for Every Child program where government loan is an entitlement and education is affordable. The program also will encourage students to expect loan forgiveness. The description is obviously hyperbolic and even those who casually follow the higher education scenario are unable to understand the issues highlighted here.

    According to the report, there is increased focus on four year degrees now. It suggests that most of the jobs require people who have completed two year courses, apprenticeships and occupational courses.

    The report also states that attention is being diluted from the vital issue of college completion by excess focus on college access. All of us already know that two thirds of under graduate students take out loans due to pay for very high college tuitions.

    If Romney becomes our President, what will it imply for college students? If you look at it closely, all small reforms proposed by A Chance for Every Child is similar to what Obama administration has always been proposing.

    While Romney makes it clear that only colleges that strive to bring down tuition will be supported by the government, Obama has already said this way back in January. Romney suggests simplification of federal financial aid system which may eventually lead to reduction in financial aid availability.

    He also suggests providing more Pell Grant dollars to needy children. This will translate to tightening of requirements and the move will be opposed by the Student Loan Ranger.  To ensure that students and their families make an informed decision, Romney suggests entering into private-public partnerships.

    For those already struggling with student debt and for those who cannot afford college, what Romney opposes would be more problematic than what he proposes. He seems to be wary of enhancing Pell Grant funding and is serious about tightening eligibility requirements.

    He is also evidently against the regulations imposed by gainful employment of Obama administration. This regulation is aimed at preventing students from raking up huge debts for sub-par school degrees.

    After all, it is the Presidential election and there must be a strong and attractive rhetoric from Romney which is the loan forgiveness is the expectation part. Who knows, Romney may yet be serious about it and dismantle various programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

    On the whole, looking at Romney’s proposals, he appears to have just reworded proposals initiated by the Obama administration. The only difference is rather than using Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other government agencies already in existence, he will focus







 

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