The government already funds a significant portion of education. When i was in school(99-04) tution represented 1/3rd of the operating costs of the university. So that means the goverment is paying for two thirds of the cost. In addition you get a tax credit for every dollar you pay in tutition which can be carried foward. So you get 15% federally and in alberta 10% provincially. So now we are up to the government paying 75% of the costs. If you hit max student loans the goverment.
If you are from a low income family the government will give you a grant of 250 per mont so 2000 per year. 800 per year for middle income. Tuition being about 6000 per year thats a 1/3 subsidy for low income and a 1/8 subsidy for middle in come.
So adding up all of the credits we get a low income family student has 85% of the universities costs to educate a student paid for, a middle income student 79% of the universities costs.
Is it unreasonable to ask a student to pay for 20% of the cost of there education and their living expenses? I think it is. Especially when the government hands out collateral free, reasonable interest loans to everyone to cover the remainder.
If governments do end up moving towards reduced or free tuition it should be one in the form of tax breaks after graduation so you only subsidize those that graduate and remain in Canada. If you go o Uni with a plan for your future it is the best 50k of debt you will ever accumulate. I probably make 80k more. Year than i would have without my degree. The best investment i have ever made.
This students strike is a lot like the sports league strike. The amount of money ypu lose by striking (a year of school plus a year of earning vs 1 season) can never be gained back. They are losing 1 year of peak earnings fighting over at most 10k. That doesnt make sense.
|