Some students say the additional financial burden of school, could lead to more mental stress after the Ontario government announced that OSAP grants will decrease starting this fall.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a government program that provides grants to help students pay for university or college.
Western second year integrated engineering student and member of SAVE OSAP LONDON, Amrithaa Logeswaran said many post-secondary students are under financial strain and psychological pressure over the reduction of OSAP grants.
Western student Amrithaa Logeswaran (Credit: Emily Kim/XFM News)
“If students are feeling burnt out, stressed, they feel as though they cannot complete their degree,” Logeswaran said. “That is a very big reflection on the university itself.”
She also said the Western University does offer mental health and academic support services but they aren’t communicated and promoted well with student.
“It leads to students feeling like that they don’t have those resources when they are actually available.”
The government decision also will have a harmful impact on students from low and middle income families accessing education, not only on students’ mental health.
“There has been numerous policy reports and studies done showing the financial effects of attending university, and showing that oftentimes receiving an education helps the economy much more than it does to not receive one,” Logeswaran added.
On Wednesday afternoon, Western students conducted a walk-out led by SAVE OSAP LONDON.
It was a silent walk-out with their signs, but they strongly spread awareness of OSAP grant cuts and the impact on students.
SAVE OSAP LONDON is organizing a high school walk-out to protest the cuts at Victoria Park from 12:30 p.m. on March 11.
