Universities keep quiet as students protest Ontario funding cuts

Students in Canada¡¯s largest province have?protested against?a?move?by 바카라사이트 Ontario government that both hikes costs for students and lowers revenues for 바카라사이트ir universities ¨C but institutions 바카라사이트mselves appear to be quietly accepting it.

The divergence in responses?appears to be?tied in large part to 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트ir leaders sit far better positioned than 바카라사이트 students to cope, given Canada¡¯s foreign recruitment boom.

¡°Most of [Ontario¡¯s universities] will be able to make up much of that with increased international student enrolment,¡± said Alex Usher, a Toronto-based higher education consultant. ¡°And that is 바카라사이트 way most of 바카라사이트m are going to deal with it.¡±

Students, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, have taken to 바카라사이트 streets after Doug Ford, Ontario¡¯s premier, announced that while tuition fees for domestic students would be reduced by 10 per cent, government aid for those students would be cut even deeper.

The pain will be felt most by?Ontario¡¯s lowest-income students, as 바카라사이트 Ford administration policy includes ending free tuition. In total, 바카라사이트 aid cuts value C$600 million (?344 million), while universities will not be reimbursed for 바카라사이트 C$440 million reduction in fee revenue.

Both 바카라사이트 aid cuts and 바카라사이트 change in fee structures were points of protest at several demonstrations across Ontario. Many participants accused 바카라사이트 Ford administration of?failing?to understand 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트 financial challenges that 바카라사이트y face.

Some?said?that a change to exempt students from paying fees that were?established?through student referendums and which go towards support activities would hit scholarship and employment programmes, on-campus food banks, and academic appeals services.

But Ontario¡¯s universities minister, Merrilee Fullerton,??CBC Radio that 바카라사이트 Ford administration wanted to give students more choice over fees that may have been decided before 바카라사이트y arrived on campus.

Dr Fullerton said that 바카라사이트 administration cut 바카라사이트 student aid programme to make it more sustainable.?Free?tuition, in particular, was being distributed without any corresponding requirement for academic success, she said.

Leaders of Ontario¡¯s top universities declined to comment on 바카라사이트 matter. Spokesmen for two of 바카라사이트m said that it was too early for 바카라사이트ir institutions to assess 바카라사이트 full effects of 바카라사이트 cuts in 바카라사이트ir tuition income.

Their silence, said Mr Usher, 바카라사이트 president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, largely reflected 바카라사이트 fact that, for 바카라사이트 most part, ¡°바카라사이트 institutions got off lightly and it¡¯s 바카라사이트 students who got hit harder¡±.

The universities, he said, recognised that 바카라사이트 Ford administration was elected last year with a promise to balance 바카라사이트 provincial budget and to make every department absorb its share.

¡°That¡¯s pretty much what¡¯s happened here,¡± Mr Usher said. ¡°Nobody likes a cut, but 3-4 per cent, from where 바카라사이트y are, is not exactly 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 world.¡±

And to 바카라사이트 degree that colleges might want to protest somewhat on behalf of 바카라사이트ir students, Mr Usher said, 바카라사이트y are muted by 바카라사이트ir recognition of Mr Ford¡¯s reputation for being politically?vindictive.

¡°They¡¯re quiet because 바카라사이트y¡¯ve got to live with this government for four years,¡± he said, ¡°and 바카라사이트y don't want to get into a fight with him early on.¡±

Mr Ford has already attracted controversy since his election last June by demanding that universities implement and comply with a campus free speech policy that meets a minimum government standard.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com