Media Advisory - Students send Valentine's Day messages to legislature

VICTORIA, BC, Feb. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Students from several campuses will deliver Valentine's Day messages to the legislature today in hopes of encouraging the government to take action on funding for colleges and universities. The event draws attention to the record high costs of public post-secondary education in BC, and the pressing need for government action.

"Education shouldn't be a debt sentence," said Zach Crispin, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia. "Yet this year, tens of thousands of BC families will go deep into debt to participate in public post-secondary education."

Earlier this month, students from 24 campuses across BC mobilized for the Canadian Federation of Students' pan-Canadian day of action to increase support for making public post-secondary education more affordable.

The biggest financial barrier to education only got bigger this year in BC. Tuition fees have climbed over $4,800 at BC universities, according to Statistics Canada. For the tenth consecutive year tuition fees in British Columbia have increased, pushing up the cost of a degree by more than $10,000.

Without a provincial grants program since 2005, average student debt in British Columbia is nearly $27,000 after a four year program. With compound interest over a ten-year repayment period, that figure balloons to $34,000.

"The upcoming provincial budget provides ample opportunity for Premier Clark to differentiate herself from her predecessor by making affordable post-secondary education a priority," said Crispin.

The Canadian Federation of Students-BC is composed of students from 16 post-secondary institutions in BC. Post-secondary students in Canada have been represented by the Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organizations since 1927.

Zach Crispin, Chairperson at 604-733-1880
Ian Boyko, Research and Communications Officer at 604-733-1880