Students demand government reduce tuition fees

VANCOUVER, May 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Students are ready to work with newly elected and re-elected Members of the Legislature to make education more accessible.

"Making post-secondary education accessible means reducing tuition fees," says Katie Marocchi, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-BC, "Struggling students and our families want the government to change the current course of public education to reduce tuition fees and drop student debt."

In 2001, the BC Liberal government deregulated tuition fees. As a result tuition fees skyrocketed, surpassing greatly the rate of inflation and reaching record high levels. From 2001 to 2012, tuition fees more than doubled. Despite the current regulations, tuition fee rates continue to climb.

"Continuing tuition fee increases would not reverse the damage done to affordability and accessibility," says Marocchi. "As students we won't sit on our hands for another four years and let our families fall prey to massive student debt."

With record high tuition fees in BC's post-secondary education system, the province boasts a shameful average of $27,000 student debt upon graduation.

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

Katie Marocchi, Chairperson:   [phone]
Zachary Crispin, Spokesperson:   [phone]