Students across Ontario are rallying on social media against the proposed Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) changes.
Post from reddit (Source: r/fanshawe)
In a recent press release, Ontario said it will invest $6.4 billion in the province’s colleges and universities over four years. But many students are upset about other changes, including the end of the tuition freeze, which allows institutions to raise tuition by up to two per cent over the next three years.
One of the biggest changes to the program will be the distribution of grants and loans. Currently, OSAP allows students to receive up to 85 per cent of their funding as grants and 15 per cent as loans. In the new system, the maximum grant will be capped at 25 per cent of the funding, with loans set at a minimum of 75 per cent.
The change to loans will add thousands of dollars to student debt after graduation. The changes worry students, who fear the additional costs may be too much to handle and that the future of arts programs is at risk after comments from Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“Go into jobs of the future. Focus on STEM — science, technology, engineering and math. That’s where the jobs are,” Ford said after criticizing a basket-weaving course.
Fanshawe College has cut many programs in recent years, and the OSAP changes could lead fewer people to pursue some post-secondary programs, including the fashion program.
“It just doesn’t make any sense, when STEM courses typically cost more. If you want people to be incentivized to go into into these more “necessary” courses it doesn’t make sense to take their money away,” said Julia Capisaini-Hughes, a fashion student at Fanshawe College.
“These “basket weaving” courses make life brighter, everyone wears clothes, and there needs to be people that design them,” said Jessica Kumar, another fashion student.
Jessica Kumar laying out patterns (Source: Joshua Chen/XFM)
The New Democratic Party (NDP), which serves as the Ontario Official Opposition, called out the changes and took a stand with students.
Vijay Thanigasalam (left), Josh Morgan (middle), and Terence Kernaghan (right). (Source/Joshua Chen XFM)
“This is not a small change. Moving from mostly grants to mostly loans fundamentally changes what it costs to get an education in Ontario. For many low- and middle-income students, this is the difference between finishing their degree and dropping out, NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan said in a news release. He said many talented young people will not achieve their dreams because of Doug Ford’s cuts in Ontario.
Official Opposition leader, Marit Stiles, continues to call on Doug Ford to reverse the cuts to OSAP.
“The good news is, it’s not too late. Ford has always loved a good flip-flop,” said Stiles in a release by the NDP.
