TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Data released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives predicts Ontario tuition fees will increase to $9,483 by 2017. According to the report, Ontario students will also continue to pay the highest tuition fees in Canada for the next four years.
"This data makes it crystal clear that the Liberal government completely lacks leadership and direction when it comes to post-secondary education," said Alastair Woods, Chairperson for the Canadian Federation Students-Ontario. "The government has continued to divest from higher education, as fees rise, class sizes swell and student debt levels balloon."
The provincial government has justified tuition fee increases by offering an array of financial assistance programs that range from loans to grants to post-graduation repayment assistance. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' data shows that even with these programs, Ontario is still one of the least affordable provinces for students from low- and middle-income families.
"Ontario has an affordability crisis that is barring qualified students from pursuing college or university education and saddling thousands more with record levels of student debt," said Woods. "The province must end its piecemeal approach to higher education and fund our institutions properly so that we can reduce tuition fees and ensure high quality teaching and learning at public colleges and universities."
The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is the largest and oldest student organization in Ontario, representing more than 350,000 college and university students in all regions of the province.
SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario
Alastair Woods, Chairperson: 647-378-8942 or [email protected]
Kaley Kennedy, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator: 647-302-3891 or [email protected]
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