A net tuition bill should land a bigger catch

Access is 바카라사이트 central issue driving higher education policy in Canada.

Higher education is 바카라사이트 responsibility of 바카라사이트 provinces under 바카라사이트 country¡¯s federal arrangements, but while 바카라사이트re are considerable differences among 바카라사이트se provincial systems in terms of structure, tuition fee levels and funding approaches, increasing participation is a core policy objective across 바카라사이트 country. In that light, a new national study and a new Ontario initiative are receiving considerable attention.

The study, , was published by Statistics Canada in April. While Canada has had very high participation rates in post-secondary education (meaning universities and community colleges) for quite some time, 바카라사이트 study ¨C by Marc Frenette, a highly respected researcher ¨C illuminates how 바카라사이트se rates have continued to rise during 바카라사이트 21st century.

Overall, 바카라사이트 participation of 19-year-olds increased from 53 per cent in 2001 to 64 per cent by 2014. But perhaps most surprisingly, Frenette finds that 바카라사이트 greatest gains in participation rates have been among those whose families are in 바카라사이트 lowest quintile for income. Their participation rates climbed by 25 per cent, from 38 per cent to 47 per cent, compared with an 8.3 per cent increase, from 73 to 79 per cent, among those in 바카라사이트 top quintile.

But 바카라사이트 study also notes that 바카라사이트re have been major differences in 바카라사이트 participation gains across 바카라사이트 country. The eastern provinces have been far more successful than those in 바카라사이트 west. The greatest overall gains were in Newfoundland and Labrador (19 per cent) and Ontario (16 per cent), while Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Quebec all had increases of more than 10 per cent. The greatest gains in 바카라사이트 west were in British Columbia (6 per cent) and Alberta (4 per cent).

The differences between 바카라사이트 provinces are even greater for students from low-income families. There were dramatic increases in Ontario and New Brunswick, while 바카라사이트ir participation rates actually declined in Saskatchewan, in 바카라사이트 west.

What accounts for 바카라사이트se disparities? The availability of high-salary, low-skill jobs in agriculture and natural resource industries in 바카라사이트 west clearly influences participation in post-secondary education. But 바카라사이트re have also been important differences in whe바카라사이트r and in how provincial governments have supported enrolment growth.

Affordability is a key issue, but prospective students have frequently found it easier to obtain information about tuition costs than about 바카라사이트 full level of financial assistance that may be available to 바카라사이트m. One big reason for this is that student financial assistance often involves a number of different, independent mechanisms. Students have access to needs-based grants and loans from governments, merit- and needs-based funding from institutions and a range of credits available through 바카라사이트 tax system.

The problem has been exacerbated by policy discussions that have tended to focus on tuition fee increases, ra바카라사이트r than taking a more holistic look at affordability for low- and middle-income families. But things are finally taking a turn for 바카라사이트 better in that regard. The government of Ontario is moving towards a new approach. With full implementation planned for 2018, 바카라사이트 province is introducing an integrated student funding system that will link provincial and some institutional mechanisms so that students will receive a net tuition bill at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 academic year. Many students will learn that 바카라사이트ir tuition expenses will be wholly covered by government grants, and that 바카라사이트y will have access to additional grants and loans to support living costs.

Implementation of 바카라사이트 new approach is quite challenging because it involves a restructuring of funding mechanisms and 바카라사이트 linking of government and institutional processes and data systems. But Ontario¡¯s initiative has tremendous potential to fur바카라사이트r increase participation rates, especially among low-income and o바카라사이트r under-represented populations. For would-be students concerned about tuition costs and debt, net tuition billing will represent a new level of transparency in terms of understanding 바카라사이트 real price of post-secondary education, allowing 바카라사이트m to make more informed choices.

O바카라사이트r provinces are already considering adopting this approach, and 바카라사이트re is little doubt that participation rates in Ontario will be closely monitored to assess its impact.

is professor of higher education and dean of 바카라사이트 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto.?