7 In Search of The Green
rey
NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE, DESPITE PREDICTIONS
by John Gushue Canadian University Press
THE 1980’S WOULD BE THE DECADE during which post- secondary enrollment bottomed out, the demographers pre- dicted,
But the demographers were wrong. While the age group that traditionally has the heaviest post-secondary par- ticipation rate — 17 to 21 year- olds —. has narrowed consid- erably in the last decade, col- leges and universities across the country are reporting another year of steady enroll- ment increases.
An informal telephone survey conducted by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada confirms that predic- tions made 20 years ago are completely wrong.
“We originally saw the group of 17 to 21 year-olds declining, and we expected the participa- tion rate to be about the same,” said AUCC researcher Marino Kristjanson. “Perhaps we were relying too much on connect- ing these two.”
According to the AUCC, enrol- lment across Canada has in- creased for the seventh con- secutive year. Full-time under- graduate enrollment is up by 1.3 per cent, with the largest increases — 6.3 and 4.4 per cent, respectively — reported in Newfoundland and Sas- katchewan.
“We would have predicted dif- ferently,” said Kristjanson. “I think we would have expected an overall decrease of at least that much.”
“These are significant in- creases, and in a short period of time too,” said Kristjanson.
Most education groups and critics say high unemployment rates are keeping many young people in school.
“What we have now is the unwilling student,” said Lynn McDonald, federal New Demo- cratic post-secondary educa-
* tion critic: “Enrollment is up
because jobs are scarce.”
Kristjanson says several fac- tors influence enrollment changes, but agrees poor em- ployment prospects place great- er demand for higher educa- tion.
“Good jobs aren’t easy to come by for young people, and so there is pressure to go to school,” he said. “Full-time first year enrollmentin Alberta increased more this year than last year, which isn’t surpris- ing.”
Jean Wright, an accessibility researcher for the Canadian Federation of Students, said groups that traditionally have avoided universities are now unexpectedly enrolling for post-secondary education.
“For example, women who are older and who are going back to school is the trend that no one really predicted,” said Wright.
But for the record number of students in Canada’s schools, life isn’t easy. Besides dealing
‘with jammed classrooms, in-
adequate resources and out- dated equipment, many stu- dents are forced to take on student loans — increased in most provinees in favor of grants — to finance their education.
“On the one hand, it’s good that the money is available,” said Wright. “But it is unfor- tunate that students have to borrow heavily into debt to go to school.”
In British Columbia, where the Social Credit Government abolished the grants portion of its assistance program two years ago, the average student aid debt has skyrocketed to $15.000, an increase of $12,000 since 1984. —
Howard McMurdy, former NDP post-secondary education cri- tic, said rising fees and enor- mous debt loads “are scaring away the people who benefited for decades by increased acces- sibility — women, disabled, natives, minorities and low in- come groups.”
Said counterpart McDonald, “Our participation rate is much higher than in other countries, but we still don’t make univer- sity or college education very accessible. Financial difficul- ties here are much greater than in other countries, particularly in Europe.”
With federal and provincial governments restraining post- secondary funding, education lobby groups say the quality of education in Canada is being increasingly threatened.
_ “The problem is really one of
quality, not accessibility,” says CFS researcher Wright. “The education is still there, but itis not as good as it used to be.” Increased enrollment means heavier workloads for the coun- try’s faculty, whose numbers have far from matched the swell in classroom sizes.
Welcome, welcome all ye fel- low students, full of vim and vigour. I surely hope that one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be financially responsible and keeping in line with this watch out for details about a short workshop on “Student Money Management — the tale of the loaves and the fishes.”
Word from the Student Aid office is that bursary cheques will be out in mid-January. Also, a reminder to seniors planning to attend graduate or professional school, the dead- lines are coming quick so get moving.
If I can be of assistance please feel free to drop by the office, first floor of Main Building. My office hours are as follows, or call 566-0647:
9 — 1 pm Monday 10 — 1 am Tuesday and Thurs-
Financial Aid by Inge Dorsey
day
12 — 1 pm Wednesday
10 — 1 pm Friday
Upcoming Bursary Deadlines: Catholic Women’s League Bursary These bursaries are awarded to Catholic female students. Financial need is the primary consideration. Appli- cations may be picked up at Student Services. DEADLINE: January 30
UPEI Memorial Bursary A number of bursaries (usually around 15) valued at $200 are awarded to full-time students, in any year, in the second sem- ester. Primary consideration for this bursary is financial need. The deadline is sometime in early February. Applications may be picked up from either Student Services or the regis- trar’s office.
Have a good week!
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*
terrorism. Rules:
Endterror
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c> nOnUmM=0zZm >
K1P 5G8
number.
*
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Join tte GEM ,
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ESSAY CONTEST ON TERRORISM First prize $1000
Topic: Ways to combat terrorism using the three principles of Endterror.
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