Ontario govt. announce free post-secondary tuition for families making under $50k

[CliffFletcher]

Maybe instead of subsidizing post-secondary education even more, we need to find out why the cost to students has increased at twice the rate of inflation for more than 30 years.

And while we're on the topic, can anyone explain to me how with the incredible transformation technologies have made to virtually all other sectors of public and private life, universities should still operate pretty much the way they did a century ago? Surely there's a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver the content of a lecture than 400 students paying to sit in a hall and listen to some academic who doesn't want to be there reading from his notes.

[Coach]

@afc^^^ Pretty much the crux of it, yeah.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Unless Wynn jacks up corporate tax rates more and chases more businesses out of their workers paradise.

Trudeau's gonna take care of that.

[chemgear]

Wait, where have I heard this before?

"The minister said the new system will be more accessible but cost taxpayers roughly the same amount."

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Maybe instead of subsidizing post-secondary education even more, we need to find out why the cost to students has increased at twice the rate of inflation for more than 30 years.

And while we're on the topic, can anyone explain to me how with the incredible transformation technologies have made to virtually all other sectors of public and private life, universities should still operate pretty much the way they did a century ago? Surely there's a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver the content of a lecture than 400 students paying to sit in a hall and listen to some academic who doesn't want to be there reading from his notes.

Yup 100% agreed.

In all honesty, education is as free as you can make it right now. All you need is an internet connection. School, however, is getting more expensive by the day. And it's school you need to go through to get your piece of paper to hang on the wall and show everyone.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I take it that we still don't care about plumbers or carpenters or sparkies, even though we need those skills way more than university grads.

Bingo.

Nothing wrong with cheap school. But it does no good to anyone to have unlimited amounts of liberal arts majors.

In Nordic countries that have free tuition, they strictly control how many spots are available in each program based on labor needs. Many even divert kids in high schools towards trade related programs.

[Weitz]

Can't trades people claim EI while in school? I know my friends were always making money while going to school.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by blankall

Bingo.

Nothing wrong with cheap school. But it does no good to anyone to have unlimited amounts of liberal arts majors.

In Nordic countries that have free tuition, they strictly control how many spots are available in each program based on labor needs. Many even divert kids in high schools towards trade related programs.

Can someone please explain to me why there is all of a sudden an influx of people wanting to go through "useless" liberal arts degrees just because it's cheaper?

I agree with the labour need controls you mentioned, and I think it's why the admission requirements will (and should) likely increase, particularly for high demand programs.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think that all universities and post secondary schools should be like the University of Phoenix (They say its like the Harvard of the West).

no need for huge sprawling expensive campuses. You could have everyone do their course work on the line.

[OMG!WTF!]

Ha. Free tuition says the single most indebted sub sovereignty on the planet. Wynn's Oprah impersonation...And you get a free education. And you get a free education. And you get a free education. Should be good for securing liberal voters though.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Ha. Free tuition says the single most indebted sub sovereignty on the planet. Wynn's Oprah impersonation...And you get a free education. And you get a free education. And you get a free education. Should be good for securing liberal voters though.

Hey I just got a sandwich

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Maybe instead of subsidizing post-secondary education even more, we need to find out why the cost to students has increased at twice the rate of inflation for more than 30 years.

And while we're on the topic, can anyone explain to me how with the incredible transformation technologies have made to virtually all other sectors of public and private life, universities should still operate pretty much the way they did a century ago? Surely there's a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver the content of a lecture than 400 students paying to sit in a hall and listen to some academic who doesn't want to be there reading from his notes.

From my alma mater

https://newtrail.ualberta.ca/winter-...igital-degrees

and

https://uofa.ualberta.ca/courses/online

[Slava]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

The problem is a degree shouldn't be expected for most jobs, by pumping thirty or forty percent of our population through university we have effectively devalued the Bachelors down to the level of grade twelve twenty years ago, I'm a youth worker, you used to, (and I did) enter the field with high school and taking the crappy shifts, weekends or overnights, you don't need a degree nor can a degree teach you how to handle a suicidal kid.
Today you need a BSw to earn 19 bucks an hour at best in a group home, it's a rip off, we have effectively forced kids to pay fourth of fifty thousand to get the equivalent of grade twelve.

Close. Statscan says its about 14% that have bachelors degrees in Canada from what I saw: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-581-...00/edu-eng.htm

I think that people really undervalue how much advanced education is worth. I am one of the few who thinks that this is a good idea, because if the qualification standards to get into school rise and these people come from families that are low income its not a question of whether they're smart enough. They obviously work hard and just might not have the financial means to get a university education. This just makes society better for everyone if we can remove the financial barrier that might preclude some bright people from furthering their education.

Is it smart for the province from a financial perspective? Maybe? I'm sure someone can chime in who knows, but I thought most of the university funding wasn't from tuition at this point? So really its a question of how many students this will affect and how much of an impact that will have on the overall bottom line.

[GGG]

I think you could design a much better system to subsidize undergraduate education based on 5 years later income.

So you give people student loans, then you have a loan forgiveness scheme based on their future income with some sort of waiting to degrees in need.

[Coach]

Interesting idea GGG.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by GGG

I think you could design a much better system to subsidize undergraduate education based on 5 years later income.

So you give people student loans, then you have a loan forgiveness scheme based on their future income with some sort of waiting to degrees in need.

So you get subsidized more if you get a degree that pays less?

Doesn't seem fair to me. Everyone or no one (assuming we are sticking to the $50k/year).

[Jacks]

If Wynne really wanted to improve her chances of re-election she'd look at giving out free beer.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Can someone please explain to me why there is all of a sudden an influx of people wanting to go through "useless" liberal arts degrees just because it's cheaper?

I agree with the labour need controls you mentioned, and I think it's why the admission requirements will (and should) likely increase, particularly for high demand programs.

We have too many to begin with. When faced with bills for their program, many will think twice, regardless of whether they can afford it or not.

[puckedoff]

The cost of University in Ontario is going to go through the roof

[Fuzz]

When Justin legalizes pot, the to many students issue will just kinda take care of itself.