The Daily Orange Editorial Board unanimously supports President Barack Obama’s proposal to fund two years of education at community colleges and technical schools.

In Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday, there was resounding recognition for the need to reform the American education system. “Higher education can’t be a luxury — it’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford,” Obama said.

The president’s proposal would require students to work toward their degree at least halftime and maintain a 2.5 GPA in order to reap the benefits. The community colleges involved will have to offer classes that can transfer to a four-year university, and occupational courses will need to have high graduation rates that lead to jobs.

There is no financial restriction on who can participate in this program, which has been a point of contention among critics. However, students who cannot afford higher education and those who are looking to cut costs can equally benefit from free community college. Though members of the middle class may have better resources to pay for education, few can do so without student loans. Those loans place significant financial burdens on average American families. Having this option will prevent financial circumstances from dictating students’ educational opportunities.

The White House says that this will affect 9 million students and save them an average of $3,800 annually. The federal government will cover 75 percent of the expense, and states the remainder.

This plan is an attempt to combat the rising cost of tuition nationwide. Obama has already suggested that colleges and universities would have to do their part. But many are still waiting to see just how the federal government will fund this program.

Some have suggested that this plan is dead on arrival; even the White House recognized the challenges of getting Congressional approval.

But naysayers should be so quick to dismiss its possibilities.

While the concept may be considered lofty, it is imperative that education is looked at as a long-term investment. There is no room for partisan quibbles. Individuals sent into the work force with valuable degrees and without crippling student loans will have more expendable income in their pockets.

Making higher education a benchmark rather than a pipe dream will create a better-trained work force and a better-informed public. Two assets our country can’t survive without.

Published on January 21, 2015 at 1:42 am