This is exactly how it works. It's called a "postcode lottery" here.
> Education is as necessary as a public utility
Of course it must be free. But when it's not, you're not paying for a product, you're only paying for a chance to learn.
> actually knowing things about the world
It's 100% a students responsibility to learn. Schools can only provide with an access to an infrastructure (and this is what tuition fees are for) and a little, non-intrusive guidance.
Nobody can force the students to learn anything. Nobody can forcefully stuff the knowledge into them. It just does not work this way, and it does not matter how much you do not like it. It's a direct consequence of the human nature.
And most definitely, a degree is not a "product". It's a luxury to be earned, not something "guaranteed".
This is exactly how it works. It's called a "postcode lottery" here.
> Education is as necessary as a public utility
Of course it must be free. But when it's not, you're not paying for a product, you're only paying for a chance to learn.
> actually knowing things about the world
It's 100% a students responsibility to learn. Schools can only provide with an access to an infrastructure (and this is what tuition fees are for) and a little, non-intrusive guidance.
Nobody can force the students to learn anything. Nobody can forcefully stuff the knowledge into them. It just does not work this way, and it does not matter how much you do not like it. It's a direct consequence of the human nature.
And most definitely, a degree is not a "product". It's a luxury to be earned, not something "guaranteed".