OCUFA response to govt backgrounder on postsecondary education

[Richard Plant]

Hello All:

I thought many of you might like to see this:
Subject: Fwd: ocufa OCUFA Response to Government Backgrounder

Richard Plant
>
TEXT:
> Yesterday, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities released a
>Backgrounder to highlight its accomplishments in managing the
>postsecondary education portfolio. Attached below is a revised
>Backgrounder prepared by OCUFA. Wherever you see "Fact" it is an addition
>that applies some reality to the government's rhetoric.
>
> Backgrounder with some facts thrown in
>
> May 15, 2001 (Revised May 16, 2001)
>
> Preparing for the double cohort
> The Ontario government is committed to ensuring that every willing and
>qualified student will continue to have a place in a postsecondary
>education program. The "double cohort" refers to students now in Grades 10
>and 11, who will graduate at the same time from high school. They are part
>of an increased enrolment of 78,000 students expected in 2005-06 over
>current enrolment levels.
>
> Fact:   The government used to say that an increased enrolment of 88,000
>students was expected by 2005-06. Now it’s only 78,000. That’s because the
>government will only start counting enrolments starting next year --
>2001-02. Any enrolment increases prior to 2001-02 will not be funded under
>the government’s new budget initiative.
>
> The Ontario Government has a comprehensive plan to give these students a
>high-quality education that will equip them to meet the changing demands
>of Ontario's employers. Key components of this plan include:
>
> The single largest capital investment in 30 years:
> ·       An investment of $1.8 billion by the Ontario Government and its
>partners to meet the projected increase in demand for spaces in Ontario's
>colleges and universities. This commitment to renew and expand colleges
>and universities will create 73,000 new student places.
>
> Fact: The Harris Government claims that this is the largest single
>investment because all of the spending is pooled and booked in one fiscal
>year. The Harris Government has been spending less in new college and
>university capital compared with previous governments. Over the six years
>of the Harris government, the average capital spending per year works out
>to be less than $200 million. The Peterson and Rae Governments spent, on
>average, over $300 million per year on new college and university capital.
>
> ·       An additional investment of $140 million will help the
>institutions maintain their existing infrastructure and use existing space
>more efficiently to create room for additional students.
>
> ·       Since 1999-00, the Government has provided $257.5 million to
>universities and colleges to help renovate and upgrade existing buildings
>to meet the needs of a new generation of students.
>
> Fact: The Portals and Pathways report commissioned by the Harris
>Government identifies $900 million in deferred maintenance at universities
>and $300 million at colleges. The funding provided by government is not
>keeping pace with the deterioration of buildings.
>
> A multi-year commitment to increased operating grants:
> ·       A landmark announcement in the recent Budget will increase
>operating grants by $293 million by 2003-04. This multi-year commitment
>will ensure that colleges and universities have time to find the best
>faculty available to teach the growing number of students.
>
> Fact: The Harris Government cut funding to universities and colleges by
>$400 million in 1995. By 2003-04 university enrolment is projected to be
>16% higher than in 1995, yet funding will have only increased by 7%.
>Funding per student will, therefore, be down 8%. If inflation is factored
>in, then funding per student will have fallen 23% by 2003-04.
>
> ·       Under the Access to Opportunities Program (ATOP), a $228 million
>investment in the first three years of the program is creating 23,000 new
>spaces for students in computer science and high-demand engineering
>programs. The private sector has contributed another $136 million to this
>program which prepares students for careers in high demand areas in the
>economy.
>
> Helping students and parents plan for the cost of postsecondary education:
>
> ·       Tuition fee increases in most programs have been capped at two
>per cent per year for five years.
>
> Fact: The Harris Government has increased tuition fees by over 60% in the
>last 5 years for regulated programs. Graduate, professional and some
>college program fees have been deregulated resulting in increases as high
>as 521%.
>
> ·       Universities and colleges that increase tuition fees are required
>to set aside a portion of their increased tuition revenues to provide aid
>to students in need. This aid is estimated to be $125 million in 2000-2001.
>
> ·       New "Aiming for the Top" scholarships recognize high school
>students with top marks and who have financial need. When fully
>implemented, $35 million annually will be invested in these tuition
>scholarships.
>
> ·       Under the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund, permanent trust
>funds with a total value of $600 million will provide assistance for up to
>185,000 students over a ten-year period.
>
> Fact:  Statistics Canada has reported that a smaller percentage of
>students from lower and middle-income homes are seeking post-secondary
>education, compared to those from affluent backgrounds.
>
> ·       The Ontario Student Opportunity Grants program ensures that no
>student incurs more than $7,000 of debt per year of study.
>
> Fact: An Ipsos-Reid poll commissioned by members of the Postsecondary
>Education Coalition shows that 70 per cent of Ontario parents are
>concerned (43 per cent very concerned) that their kids may not be able to
>attend university or college, even if they are qualified and choose to do
>so. For the vast majority (79%) of parents, cost is the over-riding factor
>as to why they are concerned.
>
> Expanded skills training:
> ·       An investment of $33 million by 2004-05 will double the number of
>entrants to apprenticeship programs in the skilled trades – from 11,000 to
>22,000.
>
> ·       The Government is investing $50 million over five years for
>up-to-date equipment and facilities for apprenticeship programs in
>colleges.
>
>
>