When he originally came to power, Tony Blair proudly stated his party’s message was “Education, Education, Education�. A admirable enough focus and seemingly not something we would immediately link to frustration and increasing personal debt. But as time has gone on, as more and more institutions have gained the status of a university, and student loans have become easily available to all, schools have encouraged many more young people to go for degrees without really pointing out the cost.

It’s not in question that we require a more educated society, but are young people really obtaining the most appropriate advice? Let’s face it; it isn’t a difficult sell to persuade a young adult to leave home and live with a bunch of friends, not bother about getting a job for three or four years and get cheap beer at the university bar. A over simplified interpretation maybe – inevitably there’s a spot of lectures to go to, and a careful balance to keep afloat, then the rewards will be worth it in the end. Or will they? For many families, the real price of university education lasts for many years after graduation, both in social and financial terms.

The student loan system (the best method of funding for university undergraduates), fees for tuition, lodgings and general costs of living over three or four years can set you back well into five figures – with no guarantee of work. It’s to nobody’s amusement that freedom-seeking teenagers out to conquer the world too often find themselves back home and unemployed. Not only do mums and dads continue having to pay for everything, but time on their hands adult children who’d previously flown the nest can definitely make things awkward!

Formal education can be a fulfilling experience for young people, and is the only route for many of our professions. But advisors and families ought to know that in some subjects, there are other, frequently superior alternatives. In the world of Information Technology, employers are crying out for commercially qualified IT professionals. University graduates often end up having to top up their IT training skills to be industry ready and fare in the job market against Microsoft, CompTIA or Cisco professionals. The disappointing thing is they could have saved themselves three years and been without a five figure debt had they gone straight to a distance learning computer training provider. Maybe the beer in the student union bar isn’t such a great idea after all – certainly the bank of mum and dad would be a lot less used up, and there’d probably be more space on the sofa!.

(C) Scott Edwards - www.learninglolly.com. Scott Edwards has been involved in the IT and Training Industry for 30 years.

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