|
 TUITION FEES
In one of the wealthiest countries in the world there is no reason why an academically qualified student with the desire to pursue post-secondary education should face a barrier, financial or otherwise. Indeed, Canada's continued social and economic prosperity depends on our ability to produce creative and highly-skilled graduates. Unfortunately, sky-rocketing tuition fees are keeping many Canadians out of the classroom and forcing students to accumulate unreasonably high debt loads.
Escalating tuition fees constitute a financial barrier to post-secondary education (PSE). According to the Millennium Scholarship Foundation (MSF), the largest single reason cited for not pursuing a PSE was cost. Tuition plays a significant contributor to overall PSE costs. Statistics Canada reports that average undergraduate tuition fees increased 187% from 1990/91 to 2005/06, four times faster than the rate of inflation. That represents an average increase of nearly $8,000 for the cost of a degree in the last decade. In terms of historical context, the tuition increase of the 1990's was the most rapid and consistent rise in tuition since 1857 and at present post-secondary education tuition and fees are at their highest recorded levels ever (in inflation adjusted dollars).
Why are high tuition fees a problem?
The short answer to this question is that high tuition increases mean that some students, generally from wealthier families have access to a post-secondary education, and others, generally from poorer families do not. Statistics Canada shows that it is predominantly students from higher-income backgrounds who go to university. These individuals are 2.5 times more likely to participate than those from lower-income backgrounds. In fact, the slowest growth in university participation rates of 18 to 21 year olds from 1986 to 1994 was by far for young Canadians from families of low socio-economic status (SES). This indicates that Canada's universities are not universally accessible and that tuition hikes are a significant barrier for less fortunate Canadians.
The reality is that a post-secondary education is such a necessity in today' s knowledge-based and competitive economy that students are forced to make immense financial sacrifices in order to receive a PSE. It is for this reason that student debt levels have continuously increased, with the current average debt load upon graduation being $29,056, including interest.
Why have tuition fees increased so much?
For most people concerned about our post-secondary education system the answer to this question is simpler than many politicans let on. The root cause of sky-rocketing tuition fees and debt loads is the federal government's broken commitment to properly fund post-secondary education. The drastic social spending cuts of the mid-1990s have left our colleges and universities with a $3.9 billion shortfall. And, as a result, they are unable to provide quality programs that are financially accessible to all Canadians. In fact, the correlations between the rise in tuition fees, student debt levels, and the steady withdrawal of public funding from post-secondary education institutions are direct.
What can the federal government do to help address tuition fees?
Despite the fact that post-secondary education is a provincial responsibility, the federal government has a very significant role to play in the accessibility of post-secondary education. As we just illustrated, the massive cuts to transfer payments of the mid-1990's resulted in the largest tuition increases in Canadian history. But, the federal government can and must play a role in other areas. These are:
- Providing a Pan-Canadian Vision
Creating national standards for post-secondary education cooperatively agreed upon by the federal and provincial levels of government through which accessible levels of tuition are ensured through proper funding.
Increasing funding for Post-secondary Education through a Dedicated Transfer Payment for Post-secondary Education
Increasing and earmarking core funding to post-secondary education institutions to ensure a properly funded system and to mitigate tuition increases.
Endorsement of Public over Private Institutions
Ensuring that public funds do not get used for private post-secondary education institutions and hence dilute the already depleted financial resources of the public system, causing further tuition increases.
Funding the Full Indirect Costs of Research
Ensuring that the full costs of research are covered so that research does not bleed institutional budgets, necessitating tuition increases to compensate.
Funding Accumulated Deferred Maintenance
Advocating that the needs of the physical plant of institutions be funded so that students do not have to do so through tuition and fee increases.
|
Parties should commit to:
We believe the most important thing the federal government can do to deal with sky-rocketing tuition increases is to negotiate a new funding arrangement with the provinces, whereby money meant for post-secondary is spent on post-secondary education. The government must also make up the $3.9-billion-dollar shortfall created by the massive cut of the previous decade. |
Find out where the parties stand on tuition fees.
|
