Students burdened by tuition
With Ontario having the highest
tuition fees in Canada, it's no wonder
that students are stressed by the
burden of financing their education.
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives confirmed that Ontario is the least affordable province in the country for tuition fees. The CCPA findings showed that Ontario, along with other high-tuition provinces, have opted not to keep costs down, but to make student loans and repayment options easily accessible.
According to Statistics Canada, university undergraduate students in Ontario currently pay an average of $7,180, an increase of five per cent since the 2011/12 school year. Although loans and repayment options are being measured, students are worried about the debt being accumulated while in school.
Fanshawe's tuition fees for most programs averaged around $3,500 a year, and while this is more affordable than university fees, college students are still facing financial struggles.
Claude MacDonald, second-year Business Accounting student, is concerned about affording tuition while paying for living expenses.
"It's not that Fanshawe's tuition fees are too high," said MacDonald, "it's paying for everything else like rent, food and bills. Some students like me have to work throughout the school year so that we can pay for basic things."
Although MacDonald said he feels there is financial support for students, he advised post-secondary institutions and the provincial government to better educate students on available bursaries and scholarships.
"I think many students aren't aware of the financial support out there, and by the time we do find out about bursaries and scholarships, we've either missed the deadline or don't qualify for it," said MacDonald. "It's not about making tuition cheaper or anything. It's about making students aware of these programs."
Also experiencing the financial strain of tuition fees is Alexandra Gergolas, a second-year student in Media Theory and Production, a collaborative program between Fanshawe and Western.
"It's incredibly hard to make it through schooling without monstrous piles of debt waiting for you," to graduate," said Gergolas, who pays for her own tuition and living expenses. "Financing my education also means that I have to meticulously calculate everything I spend and do. My life is dictated solely by my debt — not by schooling itself."
Coming from a middle-class family, Gergolas is limited on the amount of bursaries and loans that she's eligible for. "Most bursaries will look at the amount my parents make, and based on that will refuse me any help," she explained.
"What's going to happen as prices keep on rising and those of us who lack the funds fall further and further behind?" asked Gergolas. "There needs to be a more personalized system that helps students and not just base decisions on tax papers."
As tuition rates and cost of living continue to rise, it can be challenging for political parties to address the issue on how to make post-secondary education accessible to all youth in Ontario.
NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong issued a statement that she has demanded the McGuinty government to finally begin addressing the problem and make post-secondary education more affordable to everyday families.
"The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities is reviewing post-secondary education but his review isn't addressing the growing challenge that middleincome families face in paying for their university or college," said Armstrong. "When will the government make a post-secondary education affordable for Ontario families?"
According to Jeff Yurek, Conservative MP for Elgin- Middlesex-London, tuition rates are based on many factors, including the economy, supply and demand, university and college operating costs, and a desire to balance the educational goals of youth in Ontario.
"Universities set tuition rates based on the cost of operating their university," said Yurek. "I believe that we need to ensure tuition rates, scholarships, bursaries and student loans are all at a level that students who are qualified and want to attend university can."
Post-secondary institutions and the province share the costs of putting a student through school, where the province provides funds from the taxes it collects and educational institutions cover costs by charging tuition. Still, Yurek said he believes that young people need to be matched with a post-secondary education that best suits their needs.
"I feel the province and the people of Ontario need to encourage careers in the trades," said Yurek. "The question is not so much one of having enough young people with university degrees, but rather one of making sure all young people have the education that best matches their career goals."
While there are many possible solutions to help relieve the financial burden placed on youth in Ontario, students need to learn about financial support and find ways to make school more affordable.
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives confirmed that Ontario is the least affordable province in the country for tuition fees. The CCPA findings showed that Ontario, along with other high-tuition provinces, have opted not to keep costs down, but to make student loans and repayment options easily accessible.
According to Statistics Canada, university undergraduate students in Ontario currently pay an average of $7,180, an increase of five per cent since the 2011/12 school year. Although loans and repayment options are being measured, students are worried about the debt being accumulated while in school.
Fanshawe's tuition fees for most programs averaged around $3,500 a year, and while this is more affordable than university fees, college students are still facing financial struggles.
Claude MacDonald, second-year Business Accounting student, is concerned about affording tuition while paying for living expenses.
"It's not that Fanshawe's tuition fees are too high," said MacDonald, "it's paying for everything else like rent, food and bills. Some students like me have to work throughout the school year so that we can pay for basic things."
Although MacDonald said he feels there is financial support for students, he advised post-secondary institutions and the provincial government to better educate students on available bursaries and scholarships.
"I think many students aren't aware of the financial support out there, and by the time we do find out about bursaries and scholarships, we've either missed the deadline or don't qualify for it," said MacDonald. "It's not about making tuition cheaper or anything. It's about making students aware of these programs."
Also experiencing the financial strain of tuition fees is Alexandra Gergolas, a second-year student in Media Theory and Production, a collaborative program between Fanshawe and Western.
"It's incredibly hard to make it through schooling without monstrous piles of debt waiting for you," to graduate," said Gergolas, who pays for her own tuition and living expenses. "Financing my education also means that I have to meticulously calculate everything I spend and do. My life is dictated solely by my debt — not by schooling itself."
Coming from a middle-class family, Gergolas is limited on the amount of bursaries and loans that she's eligible for. "Most bursaries will look at the amount my parents make, and based on that will refuse me any help," she explained.
"What's going to happen as prices keep on rising and those of us who lack the funds fall further and further behind?" asked Gergolas. "There needs to be a more personalized system that helps students and not just base decisions on tax papers."
As tuition rates and cost of living continue to rise, it can be challenging for political parties to address the issue on how to make post-secondary education accessible to all youth in Ontario.
NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong issued a statement that she has demanded the McGuinty government to finally begin addressing the problem and make post-secondary education more affordable to everyday families.
"The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities is reviewing post-secondary education but his review isn't addressing the growing challenge that middleincome families face in paying for their university or college," said Armstrong. "When will the government make a post-secondary education affordable for Ontario families?"
According to Jeff Yurek, Conservative MP for Elgin- Middlesex-London, tuition rates are based on many factors, including the economy, supply and demand, university and college operating costs, and a desire to balance the educational goals of youth in Ontario.
"Universities set tuition rates based on the cost of operating their university," said Yurek. "I believe that we need to ensure tuition rates, scholarships, bursaries and student loans are all at a level that students who are qualified and want to attend university can."
Post-secondary institutions and the province share the costs of putting a student through school, where the province provides funds from the taxes it collects and educational institutions cover costs by charging tuition. Still, Yurek said he believes that young people need to be matched with a post-secondary education that best suits their needs.
"I feel the province and the people of Ontario need to encourage careers in the trades," said Yurek. "The question is not so much one of having enough young people with university degrees, but rather one of making sure all young people have the education that best matches their career goals."
While there are many possible solutions to help relieve the financial burden placed on youth in Ontario, students need to learn about financial support and find ways to make school more affordable.
