Speech from the throne ignores student debt crisis

VANCOUVER, Feb. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Students were disappointed that yesterday's Speech from the Throne failed to set out any measure to address the ongoing crisis of student debt in British Columbia. The Speech referenced government's intention to "re-engineer" colleges and universities, but without detail.

"Students can't get the classes they need, and can't afford the classes they get," says Jenelle Davies, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia. "High tuition fees and a lack of provincial grants mean that student debt in BC continues to climb off the chart."

Average student related debt for BC students is currently $35,000 for a four-year degree, well above the national average of $27,000. Tuition fees and student debt have never been higher in BC.

"Any government 're-engineering' of BC's post-secondary system without addressing the funding model is doomed to fail," says Davies. "The post-secondary system cannot increase its capacity and quality without sufficient public investment into colleges and universities."

The Canadian Federation of Students-BC is composed of students from 15 post-secondary institutions across every region of BC. Post-secondary students in Canada have been represented by the Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organizations since 1927.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - British Columbia

Jenelle Davies, Chairperson   [phone]
Zachary Crispin, Spokesperson  [phone]