Students federation says N.L. grant plan should be adopted nationally
The Canadian Federation of Students wants to put growing education debt on the federal election radar and says other governments should follow Newfoundland and Labrador’s shift to student grants instead of loans.
“We have a crisis in Canada when it comes to overall student debt burdens,” said national chairperson Bilan Arte.
“Without a deliberate, national plan around post-secondary education and youth employment, we are going to see this generation failed again,” she said in an interview.
“As students, we cannot stand for that.”
Daniel Rumbolt is about to start his fourth year at Memorial University of Newfoundland in fine arts and hopes to become a professor. He works three part-time jobs in addition to a full course load. Still, he expects to rack up about $16,000 in student loans by next spring, he said in an interview.
Provincial grants will save him at least $3,000. Rumbolt said it’s a huge morale boost that’s inspiring students to stay in the province after graduation.
“I think people are becoming more and more motivated to support the province that’s supporting us.”
Current loans system stifling graduates, says CFS
Arte said Newfoundland and Labrador’s shift to grants should be copied across the country. She called the current system of federal and provincial funding an “ineffective” approach that’s putting higher learning out of reach as graduates shoulder historic debt loads.
The federation argues what is now spent running the Canada Student Loans Program, related tax credits and savings schemes should be shifted to up front grants.
Many graduates are typically too broke to even think about cars, houses or other economy-driving investments, Arte said.
“We’re just thinking about how to pay next month’s bills.”
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