Chris AlemanyπΊπ¦π¨π¦πͺπΈToronto Star: βNew numbers reveal 10,000-plus Ontario college layoffs, 600 programs cancelled or suspended over past yearβ
The bloodbath in our higher education system in Canada has gotten NO press even though provincial governments and likely federal KNOW. This is the first in depth article I have seen. ALL governments micro-manage university and college policy/finances, no matter what they might say to the contrary.
Here are some truths you need to know:
Yes, I am biased as a 25 year employee of a University.
Yes, my University has also had completely unprecedented cuts in the past 12-24 months, with more coming.
Yes, it is because of the loss of International Students and their tuition revenue. Without that loss, many domestic enrollment numbers have actually been growing, but the money per student is orders of magnitude less. (ie. International was a cash cow)
Yes, faculty and even many admin, have been warning about the government downloading funding onto International tuitions for decades.
Yes, government will claim they are βinvesting more than everβ, but this is usually about Capital expenses (buildings, residences, infrastructure) or meeting contractual increases for staff salaries, *not* operating expenses.
Yes, in BC in the 1980s 80-90% of a University or College operating budget was covered by βbase fundingβ from the province. Now, it is often below 50%. (If this makes you askβ¦ is it still a βpublic University systemβ, please do!!)
And finally, yes, if we want to consider ourselves a modern country, we cannot possibly think this kind of contraction in educational opportunity (while domestic tuitions continue to increase!) is at all healthy for our society as a whole.
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#canpoli #cdnpoli #education #internationalEd #immigration #postsecondary #educationShouldBeFree
Chris Alemany
Christel Vacelet