Eliminating tuition fees?

CFS calls for more government funding, less student debt

By Kenny Sharpe

The provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador was presented with a written submission of requests this past weekend. The submission brought to light six specific areas involving tuition, grants and program expansion.

If addressed, the CFS believes that their requests will benefit students, academia, and the province as a whole.

The document, compiled by the province’s chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), was presented to the provincial department of finance at the federation’s provincial annual meeting.

Despite the inclement weather, representatives from all five of this province’s students’ unions were present.

The recommendations as presented to the government by the CFS were to reduce tuition fees progressively, with the goal of eliminating them for domestic and international students at all public post-secondary institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador. Also on the list was the intention to expand the grants program until a full system of grants is restored.

The CFS is also moving to increase grant funding available for tools, equipment, and supplies. Another goal is to eliminate the “pre- and during-study contributions” from the needs assessment formula.

Finally, the CFS is pushing to increase core funding for Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic, as well as to increase core funding for university-based research and development, particularly for graduate students in the form of fellowships.

Daniel Smith, the Newfoundland and Labrador chairperson for the CFS, says he’s confident government will take the time to consider what has been presented.

“We’re fairly certain that all of these recommendations will be taken seriously, and we’re pretty sure that some of them are going to be enacted this year.”

With the provincial budget for 2010 to be released sometime this spring, it will be a few more months before students see any governmental decision regarding post-secondary accessibility improvements.

Just under a year ago, the student movement in this province, backed by the CFS, won their battle to eliminate interest on the provincial portion of student loans – a move that was the first of its kind in Canada, ultimately saving students in this province millions in debt load.

Smith says that this victory, in addition to other accomplishments made by students in this province, is an indicator of influence, one that he says has led to “the most accessible system of post-secondary education in the country.”

“We have a pretty good working relationship with the Department of Education. In terms of government relations we definitely have our foot in the door,” said Smith.

Since the late ‘90s, the student movement in Newfoundland and Labrador has been responsible for implementing some of the country’s most advanced academic aids.

In addition to eliminating interest, there was the tuition freeze of 1999, implemented by then Liberal Premier Brian Tobin. After that announcement, over 10 years ago, Tobin alluded to the strength of the student movement in this province by saying the “students made it impossible for [him] not to freeze fees.”

That tuition freeze is still in place, with Memorial University maintaining its rank as the most affordable post-secondary institution for Canadians.

According to the report put forth by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, with data from 2000 to 2007, the number of Newfoundlanders studying in the Maritimes dropped by 1,316 students.

During that same period, the number of Maritime students studying at Memorial increased by more than 1100 per cent. The CFS present these numbers, in their document submitted to government, as proof that more affordable education yields higher enrolment, therefore increasing the amount of university graduates.

As Smith indicated, the recommendations are part of the continuing effort in pressing for fully accessible post-secondary education for everybody, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

“Whether I can pay for tuition or not, I still have to uphold a certain academic standard,” said Smith.

“If we had more people in society educated, then that would be excellent. That is what we want. That’s what society should want.”

He says these new recommendations will help in the overall goal to lessen students’ debt load, therefore enabling new graduates the ability to start their lives and their careers with little to no post-secondary burdens.

“If you come out with a high student debt, research shows that you are less likely to purchase a home, or buy furniture, or automobiles, so your ability to live and provide input into the economy is drastically reduced,” said Smith.

“We have heard from the minister of education several times in public venues that he is willing to work with students to move forward on tuition fees.”

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