Making subjects such as history compulsory in schools is the best way to overcome the decline in students studying such subjects at university. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

I strongly disagree with the statement that making subjects such as history compulsory in schools is the best way to overcome the decline in students studying such subjects at university. The reason why I disagree with this statement is because it is simply not true. The reasons why students do not pursue history at university are many, but there are a few that stand out more than others. One of them being that students have developed an apathy towards the subject because they have been forced to study it throughout their entire school life. Another reason is because they do not see the relevance of studying history when they consider what their career aspirations are. These two reasons alone will result in a continued decline in students wanting to pursue history or similar subjects at university level. I also feel as though this approach will harm those who do want to study these subjects at university level by forcing them into a curriculum that does not suit their needs or interests. This will make them unhappy and frustrated which can lead to them dropping out of university altogether!

What other measures do you think might be effective?

A further, important measure that could be taken to encourage more people into studying history at university level would be to provide more funding for universities which offer courses related to history. Some universities already do this by offering scholarships for those who want to study particular topics or periods of history, but there should also be financial support available for anyone regardless of their area of interest or background so that they can pursue their studies without worrying about how much money it will cost them.