Ministry proposals harmful to quality, won't improve access to colleges and universities
October 3, 2012 Proposals put forward in a
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities discussion paper will damage the
quality of post-secondary education and increase government interference in
higher education in Ontario, according to faculty, staff and students. Today,
provincial faculty, staff and students' unions released their responses to the
discussion paper, Strengthening Ontario's Centres of Creativity, Innovation and
Knowledge, noting the government expects institutions to do more with less and
provides no relief for students paying the highest tuition fees in the country.
"This government is not interested in a genuine conversation
with stakeholders on how we can improve and expand the post-secondary education
system," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union (OPSEU). "Instead, the Ministry discussion paper and roundtables
show their agenda is sector-wide cost-cutting that threatens quality education."
"After decades of underfunding, the Ministry's proposals
expect colleges and universities to do even more with less," said Janice
Folk-Dawson, Chair of the Ontario University Workers Coordination Committee of
the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Ontario. "Now we're being asked to
swallow wage freezes, but the Minister won't discuss the real issues
universities face-a lack of transparency and accountability, chronic
underfunding and decreasing affordability. Ignoring the real issues facing the
sector is a setup for a fatally flawed process." ?
Currently, colleges and universities in Ontario receive the
lowest per-student funding in the country. Students in Ontario also pay the
highest tuition fees in the country. Minister of Training Colleges and
Universities Glen Murray has made it clear throughout the consultation process
that the province will not address underfunding in the sector. The issue of
Ontario's high tuition fees was also explicitly excluded from the discussion
paper and roundtables.
"The Ministry's proposals would take away the ability of
students, staff and faculty to make meaningful academic decisions," said
Constance Adamson, President of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty
Associations (OCUFA). "Already, staff, professors, and librarians are expected
to do more with less, even as government threatens to undermine our
constitutionally protected collective bargaining rights. Now the government
wants to exert more control over our work. The government does not have the
experience or expertise to make good decisions for students. We do."
"Students have been speaking out on our campuses about
everything from the impact of high fees on students' mental health to not having
enough seats in our lecture halls," said Sarah Jayne King, Chairperson of the
Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "With tuition fees and student debt at
record levels in Ontario and youth high rates of youth unemployment, the
government's priority should be increasing funding and dropping fees, not
cutting corners."
In their responses to the discussion paper, faculty, staff and
students are calling on the government to improve the quality of colleges and
universities and make sure that all students can afford to attend.
Collectively, CUPE, OCUFA and OPSEU represent more than
65,000 academic and support staff at colleges and universities, and CFS-Ontario
represents over 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students across
Ontario.
For more information:
Emily Visser, OPSEU Communications: 416-557-7936 (cell)
Graeme Stewart, OCUFA: 416-306-6033 (office) or 647-280-3175
(cell)
Kevin Wilson, CUPE Communications: 416-821-6641
Sarah Jayne King, Chairperson, CFS-Ontario: 416-925-3825 (office)
or 647-339-4070 (cell)
|
