As student debt surpasses $15 billion, tuition fees continue to rise

OTTAWA, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - More than 90% of university students will be paying higher tuition fees this fall, according to a report released today by Statistics Canada. This follows the news that the Government of Canada expects federal student debt to surpass $15 billion this fall.

"Canada is on the verge of bankrupting a generation," said David Molenhuis, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "A lack of government investment has left students and their families footing the bill for Canada's universities."

According to the report, tuition fees rose by 4% for undergraduate students to an average of $5,138. Graduate students faced a larger increase, with tuition fees rising by 6.6%. By comparison, inflation was only 1.8 percent in the twelve months to July 2010. Tuition fees are currently the single largest expense for most college and university students, and are increasing more than any other cost faced by students and far faster than inflation. Despite some recent increases, federal transfers for post-secondary education are less than half what they were in 1980.

"Maintaining a strong economy depends on a highly educated workforce," added Molenhuis. "The absence of a national vision for post-secondary education has left Canada with a patchwork of different policies. This is no way to deliver higher education."

The Canadian Federation of Students has been calling for the adoption of a federal post-secondary education act that would establish guidelines for funds transferred to the provinces for post-secondary education, ensure accountability, and create national standards for the quality and accessibility of Canada's universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927. 

For further information:

David Molenhuis, National Chairperson, 613-232-7394