Nova Scotians want lower tuition fees: coalition
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Poll results were released at a press conference at Province House on Tuesday. (Photo: Rebecca Rose, CFS)
Student and union groups lobbying for tuition cuts say most Nova Scotians agree the cost of a university degree is too high.
A poll conducted by Opinion Search Research, for the Nova Scotia Post-Secondary Education Coalition, suggests that the public is similarly concerned over post-secondary education as much as health care, taxation and unemployment.
The coalition is made up of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers (ANSUT), and the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU).
Their latest poll speaks to a report released in September by economist Tim O'Neill, recommending policy changes that would allow tuition fees to increase. The cost of tuition for a standard undergraduate degree in Nova Scotia is $5,495, according to Statistics Canada.
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Students pose with polling results. (Photo: Rebecca Rose, CFS)
"We wanted to raise awareness of the fact that voters are being betrayed by the provincial government," says Gabe Hoogers, Nova Scotia representative of the CFS. "We want to show that by following the O'Neill report, the government is completely opposing the will of Nova Scotians."
Results suggest that of the 810 Nova Scotians polled, 88 per cent think post-secondary education should be a high or very high priority for the provincial government.
Hoogers says the poll was one of many efforts to raise awareness on the importance of the government's response to the O'Neill report.
"The government is not keeping students involved in the negotiation process," Hoogers says. "The last memorandum of understanding we saw was in early December, and we haven't heard anything since. We're worried that those who need to be involved will be left out and it won't be beneficial to anyone."
Chris Ferns, president of ANSUT, agrees that the provincial government is not doing all it should to include students and faculty in negotiations surrounding the O'Neill report.
"That certainly seems to be the impression we're getting," says Ferns. "The coalition has written twice to the minister of education asking to be included in the negotiations, and we haven't even received a reply to our second letter, so it would appear there is no interest in involving faculty and students."
Ferns says he also believes the poll results reflect the concerns of Nova Scotians.
"There are a lot of indications that they (the provincial government) are trying to find some way of retreating from their commitments when it comes to funding for post-secondary education. We're trying to keep these issues very much on the front burner, so everyone is made aware that Nova Scotians are concerned about adequate funding for post-secondary education."
The poll surveyed Nova Scotians 35 and older who were legally registered to vote between Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, 2010. The poll has an accuracy rate of +/- 3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
In a follow-up survey, 83 per cent of those polled said tuition fees should be reduced. This poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.9 per cent.
Krista Higdon, communications adviser for the Department of Education, says the government is aware of these challenges.
"We, as a government, know students are concerned about debt and tuition, and government has said and will continue to say they are committed to ensuring support to allow students access to the education they need."
Higdon says the government has been including students in the negotiating process, such as holding public reviews on student assistance.
Several public meetings were held in November, where people were invited to share their ideas on how to improve student assistance. Nova Scotians could also share their ideas and concerns over the Department of Education website.
"That information is going to be used to look at how we can improve student assistance and lower debt levels," says Higdon.
Ferns and Hoogers say the coalition plans to continue to raise awareness of post-secondary education struggles.
"We absolutely plan to keep holding similar events," says Hoogers. "All of this will be leading up to our Day of Action, planned for Feb. 2, which we hope will be a province-wide effort to send a clear message that people aren't happy."
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