Student activists often argue in favour of eliminating tuition fees in Canada for post-secondary education, but it’s an inefficient policy strategy.
Supporters of very low tuition rates argue that this policy approach can help improve university participation rates, but post-secondary participation rates are no higher in provinces like Quebec and Manitoba where tuition is very low compared to provinces like Nova Scotia and Ontario.
Universities across Canada already face resource constraints, and eliminating tuition would likely place even more pressure on institutions and erode educational quality. Governments should help pay for university tuition through grants, subsidies and loans to help make sure all the qualified applicants, who want to attend, can access the system. However, students also benefit from participating in higher education and should be asked to bear a share of the costs.
Making University Tuition free to help students is not a good idea.
It’s true that university tuition is a big expense to students, even with the public subsidies, tax credits, scholarships and bursaries they already receive but free tuition would hurt already cash dropped universities and produce even more stress on provincial public finances.
While everyone benefits from a better educated population, students directly benefit from higher learning, becoming more employable and enjoying greater earning potential. It’s only fair that students contribute to their own training and development.
Instead of giving free tuition, governments should enhance the conditions for economic growth and private sector employment so more graduates can find work in Atlantic Canada.