Post-secondary students were left disappointed following the province’s budget announcement Tuesday.
Despite boasting a $55 million surplus, only $433,420 was estimated to be spent on universities for grants this year and $2.3 million in deferred maintenance to buildings.
Lianne Xiao, chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students said those expenses do little to address the debt crisis of post-secondary education in the province.
“We sit at the highest tuition fees in the country, and while we are seeing a $55 million surplus, that doesn’t account for students having to choose between textbooks and groceries.”
A recent report from Statistics Canada shows Nova Scotia undergrads currently pay some of the the highest tuition rates in most programs compared to the rest of the country, with New Brunswick running as a close second.
In the budget, the government does show assistance for universities is up 1.3 per cent over last year, but Xiao said the small bump in funding does nothing to assist debt-stricken students.
“Currently, universities are being funding by a 1 per cent commitment from the province, but this falls below the rate of inflation,” they said.
“Universities are actually losing money, and we are seeing tuition fees being maxed out for students to be able to go to school.”
Xiao feels some of the surplus being touted this year should be put towards universities in a way to help operating budgets, allowing students to seek out post-secondary education in the province without the worry of crippling debt.
