Ontario colleges have demanded immediate investments from the province and a five percent tuition increase.
Colleges Ontario demanded an end to the province’s tuition freeze and better investment in post-secondary institutions.
In a statement, Marketa Evans, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario, said: “Students throughout Ontario must continue to have access to high-quality programs.
“These investments in student success will help ensure Ontario’s future workforce has the expertise to succeed in a rapidly evolving labour market.”
Public college tuition was reduced in 2019 and has never been increased since then. According to a news release, public colleges in Ontario boast the second-lowest tuition fees in Canada, as students pay an average of $2,700 annually for a full-time program.
In a news release, Ontario Colleges revealed that schools will be a “critical source of talent in the years ahead” and added that graduates will be eligible to work in manufacturing, the electric vehicle industry, mining, health care, nuclear energy and construction.
The organization demands increased tuition rates and a 10 percent raise in operating grants for September 2024. Also, it is asking for a distinct tuition policy for public colleges that “addresses the long-standing inequities between college and university education,” additional spaces for students in high-demand programs and extra opportunities for students who wish to study part-time.
The news release read: “Measures to promote the financial stability of Ontario’s public colleges must ensure college programs remain affordable and accessible to all students, regardless of where they live.
“This is particularly important at Ontario’s strong and independent francophone and northern colleges.”
In a recent statement, Evans said investment is crucial.
She said: “Investing in public college students is key to Ontario’s economic future. To strengthen our economy and help more people find rewarding careers, we must get this right.”
