Free Post-Secondary Education Needed in BC

Free Post-Secondary Education Needed in BC

TIANNA SHAW

FEBRUARY 2018

     British Columbia, in addition to Canada as a whole, has come a long way in terms of providing equality among its people throughout the years. Such things as voting and marriage are now viewed as accessible and acceptable to those from coast to coast. However there are other aspects, especially regarding post-secondary education and its high cost, that are still seen as an imbalance in equality. Free tuition would be beneficial in providing equal opportunity for education amongst individuals regardless of their background. Through elementary to high school, most students are given similar opportunities to succeed and pursue their academic endeavors. However once through with high school, many that are financially less equipped or those without top of the line grades are left without the option of pursuing their studies further. This seems unjust in a world that is currently speaking out so passionately about equality. An increasing number of jobs today are knowledge based or require technical skill, making higher education a standard job requirement (Ivanova, 2012). “In BC, it is estimated that over three quarters of new jobs will require some form of post-secondary education” (Ivanova, 2012, para. 6). Without proper education, it will become a challenge for many individuals to obtain work. For those who are fortunate enough to pursue an education, a great deal still struggle financially with the hefty costs that come along with it. The University of British Columbia estimates the total cost for one year in an arts program for a Canadian student living off campus but not at home, to be over eighteen thousand dollars (Kilian, 2012). The sheer amount of money needed is enough to discourage some students entirely. Others hold down full or part time jobs when they should be studying, with a large number of individuals falling into financial crisis. “Thousands of students still go into debt for a post-secondary education, knowing that the burden will distort their careers and their personal lives” (Kilian, 2012, para. 10). Such financial barriers are having a direct impact on Canada’s economic wellbeing. “An educated and highly skilled workforce is a crucial element for the continued economic and social development of Canada. But when the ability to pay becomes a deciding factor in who gets education and who doesn’t, our country loses the chance to benefit from the skills and capabilities of many of its citizens” (Ivanova, 2012, para. 5). In order to allow the economy to flourish and for people to obtain a proper education, without the heavy financial burden, making post-secondary schooling tuition free is a crucial step. Just imagine what the province and country would look like, if everyone had equal access to fine tune their skills and acquire new ones, all while shaping our society into a more educated and functioning team.

References:

Ivanova, I. (2012, June 6) Five reasons why you should support a move to low tuition fees in Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/commentary/five-reasons-why-you-should-support-move-low-tuition-fees-canada

Kilian, C. (2012, September 29) The case for free post-secondary tuition. Retrieved from: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/09/29/Free-Post-Secondary/