HALIFAX - University education in Nova Scotia remains among the least affordable in the country according to data released last week by Statistics Canada. This year only Ontario and Saskatchewan are charging higher fees at their public universities.
"Successive Liberal, Conservative and NDP governments have all enacted policies that further downloaded the cost of public university onto students and their families," said Nick Stark, spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Students - Nova Scotia. "Surely, at least one of the parties will distinguish itself from the others by actually committing to make university more affordable for average Nova Scotians instead of further adding to the mountain of debt that is crushing this generation of students."
Over the past two decades, average tuition fees in Canada have tripled. In Nova Scotia average tuition fees are $6,185 per year, while average student debt has surpassed $31,000.
Nova Scotia's university system is now one of the least affordable in the country, according to a report released this week by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The report showed that tuition fee increases have far outpaced increases in the median wage in Nova Scotia.
"A generation of Nova Scotians are graduating with mortgage-sized debt loads,? said Stark. "Rather than proposing band-aid solutions, political parties must commit to restoring funding to universities and reducing tuition fees."
Over the weekend, the Canadian Federation of Students Nova Scotia launched the Vote Education campaign, aimed at encouraging Nova Scotians to vote for candidates who advocate for affordable, public post-secondary education.
The Canadian Federation of Students, Canada?s national student movement, is comprised of nearly one-half million students from over 80 college and university students? unions. Students in Canada have been represented by the Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations since 1927.
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Contact: Nick Stark, National Executive Representative, Canadian Federation of Students - Nova Scotia
Tel: (902) 818-4838
Contact: David Etherington, Organiser, Canadian Federation of Students
Tel: (902) 292-7991
Alt. Tel: (902) 425-4237
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