CAMPBELL RIVER—The North Island Students' Union will be petitioning at Timberline High school tomorrow as part of a day of events throughout Vancouver Island for the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence campaign. Students at UVic, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, and North Island College will be gathering signatures on the provincial petition to reduce student debt at the events.

The events come on the heels of last week's government report on the public consultations held for the 2010 BC budget. The report recommended that the government address BC's high student loan interest rates and inadequate funding for universities and colleges.

Students' Union representatives will be focusing on their attention on High school students who will be entering post-secondary at a time when personal debt levels are reaching historical highs, tuition fees are on the rise and per student funding continues to decrease.

"We're building pressure on the government right up to the release of the 2010 BC budget," said Toni Gore, "This government must commit to a plan to reduce student debt over the four years of its mandate, students today deserve the same access to education as the ones that came before them."

WHAT: Petitioning

WHEN:  10:30-2:30, Wednesday, November 18, 2009

WHERE: Timberline High School Cafeteria

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