We Ontarians are now paying the highest tuition in the country. Nearly $1,000 more than the national average, around $5,643 resulting from an increase of 4.7%. According to Statistics Canada, our 4 to 5% annual increase in tuition, doesn't add up with the inflation rate that has risen at the annual rate of 2.3 percent.
Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? While our seminars and labs are being cut back more and more, and the quality of our education is being lowered further, we are forced to pay the highest tuition in the country. Not only is our tuition increasing, but government funding is declining. According to OCUFA tuition accounted for 20 per cent of university revenues in 1990, and 43 per cent of revenues in 2007/08.
Many of us who are working several jobs, while attempting to attend school will still graduate with around $45,000 in debt. The few recent years has made us aware, (at least have made me aware) that a university or a college degree is continuously being devalued, as years pass, it has become something that is expected. In many fields of Social Sciences (in which I am enrolled) and numerous others, you now need a Master's degree to get up on the list of employers who are hiring. However, these unpleasant news make you think twice about getting that Master's degree.
It strikes me as shocking that the minimum wage in Ontario is 9.50 an hour, and that there are people out there whose lives depend on this puny number. Let's say you have two parents who are not university educated, or even a better example - immigrants. This family will make less than $30,000 in a year. How does one expect such families to sent their children to university? Yes, OSAP is one choice but it is not a great one, it will come collecting just 6 months after graduation. It is really devastating to see, that in a country such as Canada, that there are those who cannot afford a university education, let alone accumulate enough debt to pay it off.
What we can do for now is hope for the best until graduation day comes and reality hits us across the face - hard.
-Deniz
http://notes.ocufa.on.ca/HETrends.nsf/trends_v1n1.pdf?OpenFileResource
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/593304
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/515233
Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? While our seminars and labs are being cut back more and more, and the quality of our education is being lowered further, we are forced to pay the highest tuition in the country. Not only is our tuition increasing, but government funding is declining. According to OCUFA tuition accounted for 20 per cent of university revenues in 1990, and 43 per cent of revenues in 2007/08.
Many of us who are working several jobs, while attempting to attend school will still graduate with around $45,000 in debt. The few recent years has made us aware, (at least have made me aware) that a university or a college degree is continuously being devalued, as years pass, it has become something that is expected. In many fields of Social Sciences (in which I am enrolled) and numerous others, you now need a Master's degree to get up on the list of employers who are hiring. However, these unpleasant news make you think twice about getting that Master's degree.
It strikes me as shocking that the minimum wage in Ontario is 9.50 an hour, and that there are people out there whose lives depend on this puny number. Let's say you have two parents who are not university educated, or even a better example - immigrants. This family will make less than $30,000 in a year. How does one expect such families to sent their children to university? Yes, OSAP is one choice but it is not a great one, it will come collecting just 6 months after graduation. It is really devastating to see, that in a country such as Canada, that there are those who cannot afford a university education, let alone accumulate enough debt to pay it off.
What we can do for now is hope for the best until graduation day comes and reality hits us across the face - hard.
-Deniz
http://notes.ocufa.on.ca/HETrends.nsf/trends_v1n1.pdf?OpenFileResource
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/593304
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/515233
