Post-secondary fees put education 'out of reach' for many in B.C.
Brian Lewis
The Province
Thursday, August 22, 2002
The Province
Summer McFadyen of the Canadian Federation of Students says B.C. is 'slamming the door in the faces of people who want to improve.'
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Spiralling university and college tuition fees across Canada are turning Generation X into Generation D (as in Debt), student and teaching groups charged yesterday as a new Statistics Canada report showed that fees are rising six times faster than inflation.
And in a bid to play catch-up after a six-year freeze, B.C. universities and colleges will boost tuition fees this fall by a whopping average of 25.2 per cent compared with the national average of 4.1 per cent over last year.
The StatsCan report also showed that from 1990-91 to
2000-01, average undergraduate tuition fees increased by 135.4 per cent while inflation as measured by the consumer price index rose by 20.6 per cent.
"The average cost of tuition and ancillary fees and living costs puts a post-secondary education in B.C. out of reach for many British Columbians," said Summer McFadyen, B.C. spokeswoman for the Canadian Federation of Students.
"After a decade of the most accessible post-secondary education in Canada outside of Quebec, B.C. is rejoining the race to the bottom and slamming the door in the faces of people who want to improve their lives."
McFadyen also slammed the Gordon Campbell government for making post-secondary access for students more difficult and at the same time saying it's trying to improve the B.C. economy.
"We've been very surprised that the B.C. government doesn't support accessible education, even though it talks about creating a business-friendly climate in B.C.," she said. "A very key factor in a business-friendly climate and stronger B.C. economy is an educated workforce.
"But at the same time, the B.C. government is closing the doors on students. It even eliminated 11,000 summer student jobs this year and has cut the minimum wage to $6 per hour from $8."
McFadyen said her office regularly hears from B.C. students who, due to a lack of finances, are having to cut back courses or take time off before finishing their education.
Canadian undergraduate students accumulate an average debt of $25,000 by the time they've earned an undergraduate degree, she said.
The Ottawa-based Canadian Association of University Teachers said yesterday: "Canada's universities are in danger of returning to their elitist roots as tuition fees spiral out of control.
"How are we going to attract new doctors to work in rural areas or in public health when they have education debts in excess of $100,000 to pay back?"
The StatsCan report showed that, this fall, undergrad students will pay an average of $3,733 in tuition, which is almost double the $1,872 they paid in 1992-93. Because of the six-year freeze, B.C. students this year will pay an average of $3,165, instead of the $2,527 they paid last year. They'll also pay an average of $399 in additional compulsory fees.
B.C. ranks eighth among the provinces in tuition fee levels. The highest fees ($5,214) are charged in Nova Scotia; Quebec has the lowest tuition fees ($1,851).
blewis@pacpress.southam.ca
========================================
Post secondary education is quickly becoming the territory of the rich. Once this happens the gap between the haves and have nots will only widen. Post secondary education should be FREE for all Canadians that qualify for it. If every Canadian had equal access to education many of our social ills would disappear or be eased. Education is the great equalizer.
I give credit to Quebec for realizing this in part and having the lowest tuition fees on average.
Brian Lewis
The Province
Thursday, August 22, 2002
The Province
Summer McFadyen of the Canadian Federation of Students says B.C. is 'slamming the door in the faces of people who want to improve.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Spiralling university and college tuition fees across Canada are turning Generation X into Generation D (as in Debt), student and teaching groups charged yesterday as a new Statistics Canada report showed that fees are rising six times faster than inflation.
And in a bid to play catch-up after a six-year freeze, B.C. universities and colleges will boost tuition fees this fall by a whopping average of 25.2 per cent compared with the national average of 4.1 per cent over last year.
The StatsCan report also showed that from 1990-91 to
2000-01, average undergraduate tuition fees increased by 135.4 per cent while inflation as measured by the consumer price index rose by 20.6 per cent.
"The average cost of tuition and ancillary fees and living costs puts a post-secondary education in B.C. out of reach for many British Columbians," said Summer McFadyen, B.C. spokeswoman for the Canadian Federation of Students.
"After a decade of the most accessible post-secondary education in Canada outside of Quebec, B.C. is rejoining the race to the bottom and slamming the door in the faces of people who want to improve their lives."
McFadyen also slammed the Gordon Campbell government for making post-secondary access for students more difficult and at the same time saying it's trying to improve the B.C. economy.
"We've been very surprised that the B.C. government doesn't support accessible education, even though it talks about creating a business-friendly climate in B.C.," she said. "A very key factor in a business-friendly climate and stronger B.C. economy is an educated workforce.
"But at the same time, the B.C. government is closing the doors on students. It even eliminated 11,000 summer student jobs this year and has cut the minimum wage to $6 per hour from $8."
McFadyen said her office regularly hears from B.C. students who, due to a lack of finances, are having to cut back courses or take time off before finishing their education.
Canadian undergraduate students accumulate an average debt of $25,000 by the time they've earned an undergraduate degree, she said.
The Ottawa-based Canadian Association of University Teachers said yesterday: "Canada's universities are in danger of returning to their elitist roots as tuition fees spiral out of control.
"How are we going to attract new doctors to work in rural areas or in public health when they have education debts in excess of $100,000 to pay back?"
The StatsCan report showed that, this fall, undergrad students will pay an average of $3,733 in tuition, which is almost double the $1,872 they paid in 1992-93. Because of the six-year freeze, B.C. students this year will pay an average of $3,165, instead of the $2,527 they paid last year. They'll also pay an average of $399 in additional compulsory fees.
B.C. ranks eighth among the provinces in tuition fee levels. The highest fees ($5,214) are charged in Nova Scotia; Quebec has the lowest tuition fees ($1,851).
blewis@pacpress.southam.ca
========================================
Post secondary education is quickly becoming the territory of the rich. Once this happens the gap between the haves and have nots will only widen. Post secondary education should be FREE for all Canadians that qualify for it. If every Canadian had equal access to education many of our social ills would disappear or be eased. Education is the great equalizer.
I give credit to Quebec for realizing this in part and having the lowest tuition fees on average.
