Tuesday, September 6, 2011

VANCOUVER--British Columbia’s record high student debt is a concern for the majority of it’s citizens, according to a new poll released by Ipsos commissioned by the Federation of Post Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) and the Canadian Federation of Students-BC (CFS-BC). 

“University and college education in BC is a debt sentence,” said Zach Crispin, Chairperson of the CFS-BC. “The BC government needs to take action to reduce tuition fees and to eliminate student debt.”

Highlights of the poll include:

• 92% of British Columbians think that high tuition fees are making it difficult for low-income families to participate in post-secondary education

• 87% want tuition fees frozen or reduced in BC

• Only 33% of British Columbians approve of the BC Liberals’ handling of post-secondary education issues

“Saddling this generation of students with massive debt is no way to ensure a prosperous future for British Columbia. This poll shows that the people of BC want affordable education in BC to be a priority.” said Cindy Oliver, President of the FPSE.

At $27,000 after a four-year program, student debt in BC has never been higher. BC ranks dead-last among the provinces in grants and other student aid disbursements. 

A summary of the poll can be downloaded at http://db.tt/QCuWLD7

The Canadian Federation of Students-BC is composed of 150,000 students in British Columbia from 17 universities and colleges. Post-secondary students in Canada have been represented by the Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations since 1927. 

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