Higher income equals higher education

TORONTO (CUP) — Students from high-income fami- lies have significantly higher chances of getting a post-secondary education, a recent StatsCan report shows.

The survey documents an 83 per cent participation rate for students whose families earn an income over $80,000 — a stark comparison to families earning less than $55,000; only 55 per cent of youth from these families moved on to some form of post-secondary education.

Lynn Barr-Tellford, a Statistics Canada official, explained the study looked at vari- ables including access to post-sec- ondary education, duration of stud- ies and how the students pay for their education.

Barr-Tellford said they looked at all aspects of where stu- dents were obtaining money to pay for their education.

Participation levels in Ontario are particularly low. Including tuition, students in this province need to spend an average of $14,512 per year — considerably higher than the national average of $11,200. For Adam Spence, Ontario University Student Association executive director, this figure is a serious barrier for lower income families.

"That's a pretty telling con- trast of numbers, so the cost of education is more, people are hav- ing to spend more on their educa- tion to get more through loans, and these loans are more and more > becoming private loans at a greater rate for Ontario students," said Spence.

Spence explained private

loans.have become increasingly popular among students in Ontario. 30 per cent of students in this province sought help through pri- vate loans, while the national aver- age is 14 per cent.

With the increasing demand for outside assistance, a more "selective and well-off" student will have a better chance of obtain- ing a university education than someone from a middle class back- ground, he said.

"People who have more money and come from more afflu-

ent families are more likely to go

to university," said Spence.

Jeff La Porte, OUSA's pres- ident, says the government needs to ensure that students from middle income families will qualify to

* Only $30'to change dates, compared with up to hundreds of dollars on other tickets.

Get your Christmas flight now, and change: when. your exam ‘schedule comes out if needed. For over 30 years, Travel CUTS has been getting students to:school, back home, and to: the world beyond. Visit www.travelcuts.com.

AL aS Cae a7 Ui eC Ty ti) VOUS eee eke tt ek

Enter to win at www.travelcuts.com

_ ga TRAVEL CUTS

See the world your way

Call Toll Free 1-888-FLY-CUTS (359-2887)

receive loans.

"The middle-income bracket aren't getting [loans] because their par- ents can afford to send them to school, but [the provincial govern- ment] doesn't see that the parents have mortgages and bills," La Porte said.

The provincial govern- ment's expectations of students don't add up, La Porte continued.

Ian Boyko, national chair- person of the Canadian Federation of Students, said the study reveals that the cost of post-secondary edu- cation has become an insurmount- able obstacle for thousands of fam- ilies.

"Without a national system of needs-based grants and signifi- cant reductions in tuition fees, our

*Pull payment required only 1 month prior to flight. Travel CUTS:Is owned and operated

public system of higher education is becoming more elitist every year," he said in a release.

The first results of the report, tilted Access, Persistence, and Planning, can be found at www-:statcan.ca.

307 University Ave

“Tha Sipeciad Aarnilinkin For Oalivery Fo:

UPEL, BROWN HOLLAND COLLEGE ~ & COMPU ONLY!!!

SF, Group of international crime fighting Hawaiian supermodels seek 18-24 maie to knit us Lycra, Catsuit uniforms. Kung-fu grip an asset. No Poi allergies. Visit me at www.dugg.ca

-:page [19] September 22 2003:.