Tuition cash promises creating winners, losers
October 19, 2007 | 10:28 AM
The comments in response to my last post brought up some good points. I sympathize with recent grads that are feeling left out by both of these plans, and their concerns are definitely justified. The fact that graduating a year ‘too soon’ can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars is a little out of proportion.
Sure, the NDP froze the tuition while they were in power, but now they’re saying that they are going to save students thousands of dollars in the next school year. What about the students who were paying the same tuition a couple of years ago? Well, it seems like they chose the wrong time to go to school.
So what’s the answer then? We have a government who says they can cut tuition because our province finds itself with a recent surplus of wealth, and it’s good that they put this money towards education, but maybe they could have started a gradual reduction of tuition fees a couple of years ago?
I know, I know, it’s all a part of pre-election politics, but I think it’s fair to say that the Saskatchewan voter deserves better than to just be ‘treated’ every election. Is it going to get to the point where we time our graduation or our entrance to university so that it coincides with an election date?
Lorne, Brad, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you want to save me money, but maybe this isn’t the most logical way to do it. With both of these plans, there are going to be either huge administrative pains in making sure that all recent grads will get a share of the tuition cut/rebate, or there’s going to be a lot of people who feel like they’ve missed out on saving a bunch of money.
Comments: (2)
I would just like to point out that (if the NDP Government is reelected) recent graduates will still get the $5,500 rebate the NDP has in place. Also lowering tuition fees by $1000 a year is a gradual lowering of tuition fees when you look at it this way.
A student going to university for the first time will save $4000 in there 4 years of University. If there already in school a couple years there going to save less money. For those who just graduated it does miss them out but the cut off line has to be made somewhere.
I dont thinka gradual reduction starting now would be better than dropping it by $1000 a year now. The tuition fees are the second highest in Canada and need to be adjusted now not later.
My main issue with the SaskPartys plan does nothing for those who cant afford to go to University in the first place. It almost seams like a lets make the rich even richer scheme.
Posted October 31, 2007 08:14 PM
That's right! Great column, dude.
While there is some strategy here in the form of youth retention, the timing and restrictions of these plans do leave many who endured the darkest days of the recent tuition swindle out in the cold.
Though freeze'd, tuition for you guys is still at its most expensive ever--take what you can get. Take the money and run.
Thanks for the wicked critical analysis! It's right on the money.
Posted October 20, 2007 01:04 PM