Student pocketbooks take another hit
As if having your teachers walk out on lectures, lessons and labs while on strike wasn't bad enough, now college students around the province are being told they will have to pay more for their education.
Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities announced on Wednesday that the average Ontario college student will see a tuition increase of “about $100”, while University students have to pay an additional $200 towards their tuition in September.
“If [the quality of education] was better I would pay more, but if it doesn't get any better, I don't want to waste my money,” said first year photography student Alina Lynds.
The government promises the new money taken from students will be used to improve the quality of education in Ontario.
“We aim to give the best postsecondary education possible,” Bentley said when he announced the hike. “But more needs to be done to enhance quality.”
The government listed the hiring of more faculty, support staff, administration as well as projected quality improvements. Bentley also said the new money will be used to enhance resources, updates labs, new IT equipment and expanded library acquisitions.
But second-year Fanshawe marketing student, Lina Kadoury believes there are larger issues that need to be solved concerning her postsecondary education.
“I think some teachers have experience because of their jobs they have had, but they don't know how to teach,” said Kadoury, who explained that it's not the quality of education that needs to change, but the quality of the teachers.
Kadoury said if the tuition hike addressed that problem she would be in favor.
Paddy Musson, Fanshawe faculty member and Chair of OPSEU's College Academic Division, said she thinks the government is making a mistake by increasing student's expenses.
“We don't support the increase in tuition,” she said. “In fact we think it's a move in the wrong direction.”
Musson said the union has a long-term goal of abolishing student tuition all together.
“We think that elementary, high school is necessity. You can't get a job without a college education either, so all these levels of education should be accessable to everyone,” she explained.
Faculty on the picket line echoed these remarks and asked why countries in Europe offer a similar level of education for little or no fees to the student. Larry Enns, an instructor in the landscape design program, said he wouldn't mind paying more taxes, as long as the government could ensure postsecondary education was delivered at the lower rate.
Although Musson agreed that the Ontario government is moving in the right direction by addressing quality within the postsecondary educational system, she said they shouldn't have passed the expense onto the students.
“The timing couldn't have been worse,” Musson said, referencing that the government's tuition announcement came the day after college faculty went on strike. “It hits students with two things at once.”
Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities announced on Wednesday that the average Ontario college student will see a tuition increase of “about $100”, while University students have to pay an additional $200 towards their tuition in September.
“If [the quality of education] was better I would pay more, but if it doesn't get any better, I don't want to waste my money,” said first year photography student Alina Lynds.
The government promises the new money taken from students will be used to improve the quality of education in Ontario.
“We aim to give the best postsecondary education possible,” Bentley said when he announced the hike. “But more needs to be done to enhance quality.”
The government listed the hiring of more faculty, support staff, administration as well as projected quality improvements. Bentley also said the new money will be used to enhance resources, updates labs, new IT equipment and expanded library acquisitions.
But second-year Fanshawe marketing student, Lina Kadoury believes there are larger issues that need to be solved concerning her postsecondary education.
“I think some teachers have experience because of their jobs they have had, but they don't know how to teach,” said Kadoury, who explained that it's not the quality of education that needs to change, but the quality of the teachers.
Kadoury said if the tuition hike addressed that problem she would be in favor.
Paddy Musson, Fanshawe faculty member and Chair of OPSEU's College Academic Division, said she thinks the government is making a mistake by increasing student's expenses.
“We don't support the increase in tuition,” she said. “In fact we think it's a move in the wrong direction.”
Musson said the union has a long-term goal of abolishing student tuition all together.
“We think that elementary, high school is necessity. You can't get a job without a college education either, so all these levels of education should be accessable to everyone,” she explained.
Faculty on the picket line echoed these remarks and asked why countries in Europe offer a similar level of education for little or no fees to the student. Larry Enns, an instructor in the landscape design program, said he wouldn't mind paying more taxes, as long as the government could ensure postsecondary education was delivered at the lower rate.
Although Musson agreed that the Ontario government is moving in the right direction by addressing quality within the postsecondary educational system, she said they shouldn't have passed the expense onto the students.
“The timing couldn't have been worse,” Musson said, referencing that the government's tuition announcement came the day after college faculty went on strike. “It hits students with two things at once.”
