Funding debate over colleges and universities
A couple of weekends ago, I was in Kitchener attending the latest CSA conference. During this conference, college student unions from all over Ontario had the opportunity to question John Milloy, the Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Our own Fanshawe Student Union president, Jonathan Hillis asked Milloy to “please help us understand the government's decision and thought process behind using [70 per cent of the $2 billion] investment in post secondary education to be put towards the university system considering the current economic trend of Second Career and the fact that University continues to be one of the main feeders to college enrolment.”
Milloy responded that he “can't comment on the federal government's decision,” they did lay out “a well established plan in 2003 where they introduced the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund and The College Equipment fund”.
Milloy also said the decision was likely based on the size and cost involved in improving colleges and universities. He reminded us that while he “can't comment on the federal government's decision, we'll see how it goes”.
Ontario's current policy on tuition fees expires in 2009-10. If you remember back in November of this year a rally was held in Forwell Hall, and in colleges all over Ontario, to discuss tuition issues. The CSA has always advocated on our behalf to make sure that the tuition fee policy will be fair and that those students who do not have the financial means to afford postsecondary education on their own have access to financial assistance.
Milloy agreed that students should have access to post secondary education. “Accessibility is the number one issue. “[The government] is developing a tuition framework and working on balancing it out and coming to a place where everyone understands each other's positions,” he explained.
Milloy congratulated the CSA on continuously defending transferability issues.
The CSA firmly believes that students should be able to apply the credits they have already earned in college toward applying for university and vice versa to save the student time and money and not making the student take the same course over again. The minister wanted us to know that transferability and accessibility are the most important post secondary issues.
“Students know what's best for them”, said Milloy. When it comes to issues of applied versus academic “the best thing the government can do is get out of the way and allow the student to choose courses that best match them. Not to take away from articulated programs but to move away from a Soviet style system. [The government's] job is to create a framework for students and make sure they don't face artificial obstacles” when applying for post secondary education.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Our own Fanshawe Student Union president, Jonathan Hillis asked Milloy to “please help us understand the government's decision and thought process behind using [70 per cent of the $2 billion] investment in post secondary education to be put towards the university system considering the current economic trend of Second Career and the fact that University continues to be one of the main feeders to college enrolment.”
Milloy responded that he “can't comment on the federal government's decision,” they did lay out “a well established plan in 2003 where they introduced the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund and The College Equipment fund”.
Milloy also said the decision was likely based on the size and cost involved in improving colleges and universities. He reminded us that while he “can't comment on the federal government's decision, we'll see how it goes”.
Ontario's current policy on tuition fees expires in 2009-10. If you remember back in November of this year a rally was held in Forwell Hall, and in colleges all over Ontario, to discuss tuition issues. The CSA has always advocated on our behalf to make sure that the tuition fee policy will be fair and that those students who do not have the financial means to afford postsecondary education on their own have access to financial assistance.
Milloy agreed that students should have access to post secondary education. “Accessibility is the number one issue. “[The government] is developing a tuition framework and working on balancing it out and coming to a place where everyone understands each other's positions,” he explained.
Milloy congratulated the CSA on continuously defending transferability issues.
The CSA firmly believes that students should be able to apply the credits they have already earned in college toward applying for university and vice versa to save the student time and money and not making the student take the same course over again. The minister wanted us to know that transferability and accessibility are the most important post secondary issues.
“Students know what's best for them”, said Milloy. When it comes to issues of applied versus academic “the best thing the government can do is get out of the way and allow the student to choose courses that best match them. Not to take away from articulated programs but to move away from a Soviet style system. [The government's] job is to create a framework for students and make sure they don't face artificial obstacles” when applying for post secondary education.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
