GT Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) Sample # 8
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Should education and healthcare be free of charge and funded by the government, or should it be the responsibility of the people to pay for these services?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: (View – Education & healthcare should be funded by the government)
‘Who should pay for the education and healthcare services – the government or the individuals’, is an argument that draws split opinions. Many argue that the government should provide its citizens with education and health protection services, but others contend that individuals ought to shoulder the cost. However, I strongly believe that the government must assume greater responsibility.
Access to education is a basic human right. It raises political and social awareness, which in turn promotes individual freedom and empowerment. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights acknowledged the right to education and since then it has been enshrined in several national constitutions and international conventions, which in a way, urges governments to ensure free education for the nation. Education is also essential for a robust economy. Thus, a government’s responsibility is to ensure education for all. If this is not the case, many poor children would never complete their schooling.
Likewise, no nation can prosper without healthy citizens. The increase in wealth lies in the increase in productivity. And a healthy society can work hard, which in consequence, boosts productivity. To enhance national export and stand on a solid economy, the government must ensure that each and every citizen get proper healthcare service. When people are more prolific, they are able to contribute to the economy in many ways far beyond the wages they get. For example, rich nations have better healthcare facilities and this is directly attributed to their higher GDP.
In conclusion, education and healthcare are not privileges, they are basic human rights. It is obvious that quality education and good health are the right blends to fuel the national economy. The government, therefore, should heavily subsidize the education and healthcare sectors.
Model Answer 2: (View – Citizens should support their education and healthcare along with the government)
Proper education and healthcare facilities are conceivably two determining factors for the overall development of a nation. Whether the government should bear the cost of education and healthcare or should it be citizens’ responsibility is open for debate. I believe that a government must have a greater portion of its budget allocation for it, but ultimately it is personal efforts that can ensure an enlightened and healthy nation.
To commence with, each government allocate resources for its education and health sectors but not all can achieve the desired success. Education in third-world countries is less expensive than that of rich nations and yet the literacy rate in the former is dismaying. This is mostly because only allowances by the state cannot guarantee a better education. This is true for the healthcare sector as well and a healthy lifestyle is perhaps more important than having more hospitals and state-managed checkup points.
Furthermore, making education free for all at higher levels is not possible for the government as it would require a budget unendurable for the state. This is why there are so many private colleges and universities and they are doing just fine to provide quality education. Corruption is widespread in state-managed policies and due to this affluent citizens turn to public healthcare facilities most of the time. Citizens should support the healthcare costs and education fees, which many of them are already doing, to let the government focus on developing the country in the industrial sector.
To conclude, governments already support the education and healthcare sectors by offering free education in primary and in many cases secondary levels. Establishing hospitals and appointing doctors for free is not feasible for all states. This is why citizens should be responsible too for their education and healthy lifestyles.
Model Answer 3: (View – education and healthcare be free of charge)
In today’s society, the provision of education and healthcare is a fundamental aspect of human development. The question of whether these services should be free of charge and funded by the government or if they should be the responsibility of individuals has sparked intense debate. Personally, I firmly believe that education and healthcare should be provided as basic rights and that it is the duty of the state or governing authority to ensure their accessibility and affordability for all citizens.
To begin with, when education and healthcare are funded by the government, they become more accessible to all members of society, regardless of their socioeconomic background. In countries where education and healthcare are publicly funded, individuals from disadvantaged communities have equal opportunities to receive quality education and medical services. For instance, in Finland, a country renowned for its high-quality education system, free education is provided from primary to tertiary levels, ensuring that every child has an equal chance to pursue their academic aspirations. This inclusive approach promotes social equality and empowers individuals to reach their full potential, leading to a more prosperous and cohesive society.
Furthermore, government-funded education and healthcare systems contribute to the overall well-being and productivity of a nation. By investing in the education of its citizens, a government can foster a skilled workforce, enhance innovation, and drive economic growth. Countries like Germany have recognized the importance of free higher education and have witnessed positive outcomes in terms of increased enrollment rates and a highly skilled workforce. Similarly, accessible healthcare services ensure that individuals can receive preventive care, timely treatments, and necessary interventions, leading to healthier populations and lower healthcare costs in the long run.
In conclusion, by making education and health services accessible to all citizens governments can promote social equality, empower individuals, and foster economic growth. Moreover, such systems contribute to the overall health and productivity of a society. Therefore, it is imperative that education and healthcare be considered basic rights and be funded by the state or governing authority.