Opinion: Tuition scheme unhealthy for universities, worse for college kids

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After the Quebec authorities introduced it could double out-of-province tuition charges for universities within the province, criticisms of the coverage have largely targeted on its influence on English universities and communities in Quebec. That is, after all, a legitimate concern, and it is going to be difficult for faculties like Concordia and McGill to proceed recruiting college students if this coverage is carried out. Nonetheless, I imagine the stakes are a lot increased than these provincial-level discussions: This determination has the potential to destabilize one of the vital options of Canadian postsecondary schooling on a nationwide degree.

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Among the best issues about Canadian universities is that extra prestigious faculties don’t sometimes price rather more than lower-ranked faculties. No matter whether or not you go to a small, teaching-focused faculty or a top-tier analysis establishment, the tutoring will doubtless be comparable, and it’s virtually at all times beneath $10,000 per yr. This results in an schooling system that avoids plenty of the category discrimination rampant in nations like the USA, the place prestigious faculties can price considerably extra than others.

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Within the U.S. system, certified college students usually find yourself attending much less prestigious faculties just because they will’t afford increased tuition charges; it’s successfully doable to “purchase” a greater schooling. Whereas Canada should still have points with non-public excessive faculties and different establishments that enable individuals with cash to get forward extra simply, our college system has, up till now, managed to maintain prices comparatively comparable.

Nonetheless, Quebec’s proposed determination disrupts this whole system. It’s essential to acknowledge that McGill is persistently one of many highest-ranked faculties in Canada. Whereas some are involved that the brand new tuition may hurt McGill, I’m extra involved that McGill will find yourself being simply nice; the individuals who will damage essentially the most are those that will now not be capable of attend as a result of they will’t afford it.

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The choice is actually locking working-class and plenty of middle-class college students out of Canada’s most prestigious college, which means the college will see an inflow of wealthier college students. This inflow will additional exacerbate earnings inequality and sophistication division in Canada as one in every of its strongest universities turns into an area reserved for the nation’s rich elite. The concept of paying $17,000 per yr for tuition is sufficient to instantly disqualify many from even contemplating McGill as a viable possibility.  

This isn’t to undersell the worth of an schooling at a lower-ranked faculty. Earlier than attending McGill for my PhD, I accomplished my undergraduate schooling at Brock College, a college that sometimes falls on the decrease finish of college rankings. I take into account the schooling that I acquired at Brock to be phenomenal, and on par with what anybody at McGill learns.

Nonetheless, I can’t deny that having a McGill PhD offers alternatives that Brock merely couldn’t. Even when the precise in-class schooling shouldn’t be significantly completely different, the assets exterior of the classroom are. McGill’s identify opens doorways, they usually have higher entry to networking occasions, profession assets and trade connections than many different faculties. The concept that this stuff, as of subsequent yr, is likely to be one thing reserved for rich college students who can afford the brand new tuition charge is admittedly regarding.

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Whereas I do acknowledge the worry that this new tuition charge may hurt anglophone establishments and communities in Quebec, I feel that this focus must be accompanied by a recognition of the Canada-wide ripple impact that can come from permitting extra prestigious faculties to cost extra tuition. Among the best issues about Canada is the equality in tuition amongst faculties no matter their status or rating; selecting to double the price of the nation’s most prestigious faculty has harmful implications that threaten class equality in Canadian schooling on a nationwide scale.

Steven Greenwood is a PhD graduate from McGill, the place he at the moment teaches within the English division, and can be a analysis fellow at Concordia.

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