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'n'e UPEI SUN.,'Ihursday., April 6, 1978, par 6

MPHEC NOT ON THE IPLEVE'L’

'Jhe Oomcil of Maritime Premiers has recently announced its decisicn

' to fund post-secondary

institutims in the . region at a level well below the rate of inflation.

last November, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission — the government's own advisory body — recomm— ended a 14% increase in funding. 'lhey asked for an increase of 11% just to keep up with— inflation. 'Jhey also asked for 1.5% to equalize the region with institutions in the rest of the country, and an extra 1.5% grant to equalize institutions within the region.

The Council of Maritime Premiers rejected these recantendations. Camp- bell offered an increase of 7.7% in P.E.I. He agreed with the regional equalization grant, but that if be spread out over ten years rather than the five Suggested by the Commission. He completely dismissed the equalization grant to increase the quality in the region to a level comparable to the rest of Canada.

Because government funding, on the average, accounts for only 75% on an institution's revenue, Campbell's decision means a global increase in the operating grant of 6.1%.

It's not as if the governments don't have the money. 'Jhe province is receiving substantial yearly increases in federal funding for post— secondary education. But the money is not specifically tied to education, so the province can use it as it pleases. It's becoming obvious that education is not the province's priority - our institution is not getting the federal funds.

Wnen Campbell's govern- ment fails to provide our institution with enough money to meet inflationary increases in the operating budget, two things can happen. Administrators can reduce expenditures by cutting salaries and programs, thus reducing the quality of education, or they can raise tuition fees. In fact, we have seen the two things happening at the same time.

Cutbacks mean that facilities deteriorate more rapidly. Libraries can't afford new books and students must put up with fewer hours in whidu- to read them. Obsolete lab equipment can't be replaced, and research and study suffer. Fewer courses can be offered and new programs must be shelved. Classmate get larger and learning gets harder. (Refer to MPHEC' Financial Plan 1978—79, pages 2,3,8)

We already pay the high- est tuition fees in ' Canada. Increasing them can only mean that fewer people, especially those from low—income families, will be able to attend university. Residence living, books and supplies continue to cost more, adding further financial burdens.

— The quality of our education is in jeopardy.

— The cost of that education is soaring out of reach.

' - ‘Ihe priorities in spending set by our provincial government are wrong and must be challenged.

'lhe refusal of our provincial government to recognize the urgency of the problems facing our institution is deplorable. By offering less than one half of the 14% stressed by the MPHEC as the figure necessary to the operation

of our university, the government has placed the administration, faculty and students in an impossible situation. We, as students, rec- ognize that this is a ' time of serious economic restraints, but belt- tightening at our university has reached crisis proportims. Our universities are forced to outprice themselves.

Students are more than willing to pay their share of a university education, but when costs reach such ' a level that they cannot hear the burden, then those students must seek alternatives. For our students, this means dropping out of univer— sity or Going West for their education.

'Ihe government of this province has a responsibility to its citizens. 'Jhe most valuable natural, resource that we have is the young people of this province. Investment in education is investment well placed for the future of P.E.I.

We are appealing to the government of P.E.I. to protect its resources especially in the area of education.

It is the mark of en- lightenment and progressive governments to firmly establish higher education as a public service, available to everyone who

SPRING

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SESSIONS 1978

May 15 - July 27

Over 75 courses offered!

Complete calendars now available by writing:

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SUMMER July 4 - August 15

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wishes to make use of it andwho is capable of doing so.

The benefits to be gained from a post-Secondary " r . education are not'to be reserved for a privileged minority who can afford it. Fran the individual point of view, it is cne's right to have access to a higher educatim, both for the purpose of personal and professional fulfilment. In the larger perspective, that of society as a whole, it is also to its benefit to support equality of opportunity. As post- secondary education be— cates the reserve of the privileged or those who are prepared to assume enormous debts, both the individual and society will 'Ihe price we shall ultimately pay in terms of social costs are far greater than any budgetary savings. ‘

We feel that the addition— al funding that our universities. need can come from at least two sources. Funds could be diverted from other government departments or the provincial government could raise the funds through a percentage increase in its debt financing, which is an approved policy of the Trudeau government.

'Ihe P.E.I. government has been called upon to re— consider its funding decision and increase its operating assistance to our university for the year 78-79.. Our request was refused on the basis that the government could not justify increases ahove 7.7% to our Island residents.

Premier Campbell explained that if we are to receive grants as per our request, then we must adjust our university priorities by extending our services to other areas. of the Island other» than Charlottetown.

organize and plan for the future of our university. Meetings will be held in

the next few weeks regarding these issues. If you are concerned, contact your Student Union and express

fay Shalala