A number of countries around the world provide a college education for free and that philosophy has been discussed in the United States. Among the considerations against the proposal is the idea that college isn’t for everyone.

A move by the California State University system is reinforcing that.

As of fall 2018, the nation’s biggest public university system will stop requiring remedial classes for freshmen. Without that hand-holding, there’s a question about their survival in college.

The goal to get students through college in four years is one of the reasons behind the decision, but perhaps the consequence is that it puts the onus on students to make sure they’ve prepared.

The CSU requires placement tests for English and math. If students aren’t ready, they are forced to take remedial classes to get prepared. About 40 percent of CSU freshmen each your have to take those remedial classes. Those classes don’t count as units toward a degree, so those students take longer to graduate.

Remedial programs tell us two things. They indicate that students are deficient in required areas and may not be ready to leave high school. They also are a possible signal the student may not be cut out for college.

While a college education can mean a greater likelihood of lifetime success, just because students enter college doesn’t mean they finish, or are successful in their chosen field.

At a university like Chico State, there are already programs in place to deal with student deficiencies, but some of those resources could be freed up to expand education in other ways.

As far as high school preparation, we hope schools are reviewing why graduates can’t meet the standards and what else can be done to help them. These deficiencies already concern high schools, but this new policy elevates the need for attention.

To figure out student readiness, California universities will shift back to using high school grades, SAT and ACT test scores, and classroom performance, among other gauges.

If students aren’t ready for college, maybe they are ready for work.

This is the new fork in the road, where talk about college versus career and technical education versus work can be more meaningful.