Post-secondary students have mixed feelings about the New Democrats' education platform, but the Liberals flunk, according to the Canadian Federation of Students-B.C.
CFS-B.C. chair Shamus Reid says in a news release that the Liberal platform offers "too little, too late."
"Students and our families are paying thousands of dollars more in tuition fees thanks to Gordon Campbell. He won't win students back with pocket change for the bus."
Since Gordon Campbell took over as Premier in 2001, average university tuition fees have skyrocketed from $2,500 to more than $5,000. The BC grants program was eliminated in 2004, and today BC ranks dead last in the provision of non-repayable student financial aid.
In an email to The Hook, Reid said many students may simply not return to school next fall because they won't be able to afford it. He cited a 2004 university survey that indicated 29 percent of students were taking fewer classes to keep down education costs.
Reid added that students are shifting to trades and short-term programs that will offer immediate employment:
Even before the recession, student debt was having an impact on the educational choices being made by students from lower-income backgrounds. Debt aversion causes these students to choose the most cost efficient programs where they perceive a greater ability to gain immediate employment that will allow them to pay off their debt quicker.
This is a concern because there are many professions that do not pay more than a middle-income and require getting your foot in the door at a lower wage, but nevertheless require post-secondary education and are vital to our economy and social fabric (eg: early childhood education, teachers.)
In another news release, Reid said students were unhappy with the NDP's failure to promise a tuition rollback:
"The NDP caucus protested tuition fee hikes each year in opposition. Yet by only committing to a tuition fee freeze, the NDP is signing off on every tuition fee increase made in the last eight years. Tuition fees have doubled since the NDP left office in 2001. Low and middle-income families need tuition fee relief."
The CFS-B.C. has launched a website, Vote Education.ca, to help mobilize students and their families for the provincial election.
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
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Frank
3 years ago
CFS-BC
They're right, the NDP should commit to rolling tuition fees back to where they were in 2001.
realisticman
3 years ago
CFS-B.C.
The NDP should commit to rolling tuition fees back entirely and providing free post-secondary education!
In the new economy that is rapidly changing the way everything is done higher standards of education are essential.
For a better world
3 years ago
R/Man - Tongue in Cheek?
You should emphasize the need for higher education to your Liberal (Socred) friends. No doubt the cost of delivering education opportunities have increased significantly since 2001, but the reason for giving away primary industry (e.g. logging) and secondary industry (e.g. sawmilling/pulp and paper/plywood plants) was those jobs could be replaced by the information economy.
Many European countries (particularily Scandinavian ones) provide more and cheaper post secondary education opportunities to students than in BC.
telus employee
3 years ago
Free education
The NDP should be raising taxes on the rich parasites that make over $1 million and give free education. I have taken courses at college and university and there is a serious lack of students from poor families because they just can't afford it. Meanwhile the rich inbreds can get a degree by just showing up. Not much of a meritocaracy.
sunshine coast girl
3 years ago
I fully expect
to see that all students make an effort to get out and vote for the NDP this time around. A freeze is better than what the Libs are proposing and you can't do everything all at once. Students must surely know that the NDP is 100% behind affordable education. They were the ones that froze tuition fees in the first place.
DJT
3 years ago
"there is a serious lack of
"there is a serious lack of students from poor families because they just can't afford it".
What better way to have control over people and have a captive, cheap labor pool for your elite friends/ financial donors?
Stephanie T
3 years ago
Quote: "The NDP caucus
Quote:
"The NDP caucus protested tuition fee hikes each year in opposition. Yet by only committing to a tuition fee freeze, the NDP is signing off on every tuition fee increase made in the last eight years. Tuition fees have doubled since the NDP left office in 2001. Low and middle-income families need tuition fee relief."
I guess they didn't notice the promise to reinstate need based grants and cut student loan interest rates in half. Patience people, it took eight years to get where are and fixing it can't be done overnight