Students at Fanshawe College are concerned despite a five week faculty strike coming to an end.
Classes resumed Tuesday for about 500,000 Ontario students following the strike, which was ended by back-to-work legislation.
“I’m wondering what will happen to our second semester, because I’m worried the condensed schedule will not allow us to get the education we need,” said Gavin Fernance, an international student at Fanshawe College.
Students have begun filling the halls of Fanshawe college, making their way to their first class in five weeks. pic.twitter.com/VJBAtybKLX
— XFM News (@XFMNews) November 21, 2017
“I’ve booked my tickets home for Christmas, but I don’t know how the condensed schedule will impact me. I’m worried I will lose the time I want with my family, which is really frustrating,” he said.
The Ontario government said it is offering a full tuition refund to students who withdraw from this semester due to the length of the college strike.
Students will have two weeks from the resumption of classes on Tuesday to decide whether or not they want to continue with the condensed semester.
“I just really hope we get everything we need, because I’m paying quite a lot of money to come to school in Canada, and I hope I don’t suffer for something out of my control,” said Gavin Fernance.
Ontario’s Liberal government first tried to introduce and pass the back-to-work legislation in one fell swoop Thursday night but the NDP forced the legislature to sit through the weekend to debate the bill, ultimately passing it Sunday afternoon.
