Students deliver more than 85,000 petitions to Parliament calling for greater
investment in public education

OTTAWA, Nov. 25 /CNW/ - Students delivered more than 85,000 signatures to Parliament today, calling for greater investment in post-secondary education.

"Families today are paying more for education than any other generation in Canadian history," said David Molenhuis, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "A lack of leadership at the federal level has buried Canadians in more than $15 billion of student debt."

Over the past two decades federal funding for post-secondary education has fallen significantly, leaving students and their families to make up the difference. During the same period, tuition fees increased four-fold, causing student debt to surpass $15 billion in September 2010.

This fall, students across the country collected signatures on petitions calling for the federal government to increase funding for post-secondary education, adopt a federal post-secondary education act, and increase the number and value of up-front grants.

"Bankrupting a generation will undermine Canada's long-term economic success," added Molenhuis. "Across the country, students are standing up and saying that we cannot afford inaction."

For more information on the campaign visit www.educationisaright.ca.

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:

Shelley Melanson, 613-617-7997 (mobile)
Nora Loreto, 416-846-6672 (mobile)