Re-Evaluating Quebec Tuition Fees - Essay Example

Re evaluating Quebec Tuition Fees Over the of history, societies strive to educate their people so as to respond effectively and creatively to the needs of time. Similarly, societies recognize the people's need to fulfill their inquisitiveness and aesthetic impulses, as well as to be able to contribute and utilize their knowledge to produce goods and services to the society in which they live in. As such, education plays a pivotal role in acquiring knowledge and the ability to think analytically. To most people, education is synonymous to schools and these schools also commonly referred to as educational institutions, usually charge fees by way of tuition so as to support funding for the institution. It is in this light that this paper aims to re-evaluate Quebec's Universities Tuition fees. Education in Canada is the responsibility of each province, with this; educational system varies from province to province. The provinces have their respective department of education, which exercises control over most facet of the educational system from teacher's certification, to development of curriculum as well as the nature of the yearly provincial appropriations to mention a few. With regards to post-secondary education, responsibility likewise goes to the individual provinces. The provincial government contributes majority of the funding to their post-secondary institutions and the balance of the funding come from tuition fees, federal government and research grants among others. Quebec's educational system requires children to attend school until the level of Secondary V. All Quebec residents are entitled to pre-school, elementary and secondary school services which are free of charge in public schools. The province likewise, has a high percentage of children going to private schools. It can be inferred from the table below that, the provincial government grants a pro-rata subsidy for a child attending a private school upon its compliance with its prescribed criterion. However, despite of this subsidy, the tuition fees continues to be very high. Similarly, it fosters a debate regarding subsidies to private elementary and secondary schools over the years. Table 1- Revenues of Private and Secondary Schools Revenue1 On the other hand, for the post-secondary education, most students continue to Collge d' enseignment general et professional or CEGEP, which is a preparation for university studies. Table 2- Average undergraduate tuition fees for academic year 2006-2007 2 What is note worthy about the educational system of Quebec is that it subsidizes post-secondary education and is known for the low cost of university education. Table 3- Universities and colleges revenue and expenditures, by province and territory 3 (Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) 2006 Canada Que. Ont. Man. Sask. $ thousands Total revenue 31,850,915 7,176,352 12,605,754 933,762 1,213,474 Own source revenue 14,578,584 2,148,493 6,917,595 361,069 528,743 Sales of goods and services 11,333,439 1,436,158 5,481,395 258,623 405,998 Tuition fees 6,649,086 633,503 3,403,665 169,500 206,646 Other sales of goods and services 4,684,353 802,655 2,077,730 89,123 199,352 Investments income 945,312 172,044 419,446 15,473 43,526 Other own source revenue 2,299,833 540,291 1,016,754 86,973 79,219 Transfers from other levels of governments 17,272,331 5,027,859 5,688,159 572,693 684,731 Federal government 2,902,432 797,580 1,099,060 78,255 105,641 Provincial governments 14,335,434 4,225,137 4,574,457 494,416 578,531 Local governments 34,465 5,142 14,642 22 559 Total expenditures 31,842,146 7,261,714 12,549,219 946,624 1,245,584 Education 31,211,530 6,897,337 12,368,743 942,819 1,243,143 Postsecondary education 30,902,499 6,797,332 12,182,495 942,819 1,225,760 Administration 5,861,237 1,230,038 2,173,167 214,395 214,133 Education 15,600,477 3,605,818 6,084,588 483,984 618,001 Support to students 1,111,258 169,969 617,910 12,091 30,916 Other postsecondary education expenses 8,329,527 1,791,507 3,306,830 232,349 362,710 Debt charges 630,616 364,377 180,476 3,805 2,441 Surplus or deficit 8,769 -85,362 56,535 -12,862 -32,110 Note: Fiscal year ending March 31. 1. Excludes Yukon for confidentiality purposes. The Government of Quebec adopted the Quebec Policy on Universities on February 2, 2000. In lieu with this, there is a reinvestment of $ 1 billion in education beginning academic year 2000-2001 to 2002-2003, which likewise includes $600million for universities. Consequently, the Minister of Education defined the main areas of reinvestment which provides that the recurrent reinvestment will reach $323 million in 2002-2003 and from the aforementioned amount $230 million will be used to provide general funding for university and the remainder of around $90 million is allocated for priority needs.4 The policy aims to provide for the adoption of a funding policy to correct previous problems encountered as well as to specify the related orientation and priorities for government actions. Table 4- Quebec's University and College Revenue and Expenditure 5 In view of the foregoing , the Quebec policy on University Funding will address the core funding to enable universities to fulfill their mission, in keeping with their specific characteristics and with the Government's financial capacity; the core funding that allows universities to retain their autonomy and power of initiative in organizing their teaching and research activities; and the optimal use of available resources, efficient management by universities and the accountability of the universities to society and the public authorities for the management of the public funds they receive, for the main orientations of their development and for the results they achieve, among others orientations and policy stated therein. 6 The funding given to universities is subject to certain requirements of government. These encompass teaching, research and optional utilization of resources among others. Similarly, the universities are subjected to comply with the budgetary rules for the funding policy in accordance with equity, transparency and predictability, in addition to effective and efficient management of public funds. Another significant provision of the funding policy is the university's retention of autonomy to act, for this enable the universities to choose the means so to accomplish its respective missions. The Ministry of Education provides for operating grants and investment grants. For the operating grants, there is a need for the establishment of general funding for the universities which includes teaching and research as well as land and building maintenance. In the recent developments, it also includes the weighted student enrolment which considers the variations in student enrolment. This is what the policy referred to as the relative cost of teaching activity. Also included in the operating grant is the establishment of specific funding to meet the priorities and objectives. On the other hand investment grants refer to the five year investment plan which is funded out of public borrowing through debt service. The funding policy therefore provides for a reasonable and transparent distribution of available resources to the University institution. This in turn, foresees the importance of an individual's education so as to advance and develop the social, cultural in addition to the economic growth of the society. Table 5- Average Undergraduate tuition fees as of Academic Year 2004-2005, in comparison to Academic Year 1990-1991 7 Aside from the grants and subsidies from government, tuition fees account for the operating expenses of a university. Tuition fees are charged by the educational institutions in order to defray the expenses regarding the salary of the faculty and staff as well as the course offerings and university facilities including libraries, laboratory equipment, and computer systems among others. Many students pay relatively high tuition fees. And as such, some have to put up with part time jobs and or loans. In both instances, students are pressed upon the responsibilities of the rigor of their academic life and their jobs. And with regards to those who take out loans, it is incumbent upon them to repay their loans; otherwise, he or she risks himself of a bad credit rating. Province 2006 Tuition Fees Increase (%) N.L. $2,606 0 P.E.I. $4,947 6.5 Nova Scotia $6,571 3.9 New Brunswick $5,328 5.8 Quebec $1,916 0.8 Ontario $5,160 4.6 Manitoba $3,338 0.2 Saskatchewan $5,063 0 Alberta $4,828 -0.2 B.C. $4,960 1.9 Table 6- Tuition Fees and the corresponding increase for academic year 2006-2007 8 Notwithstanding the continuous increase in tuition fees all through out Canada, Quebec maintains the lowest tuitions fees. It can be inferred that for the academic year 2006-2007, it is still the Quebec residents who pay the lowest tuition fees with only 0.8% increase in tuition fees, which is approximately $ 1,916 for a year, as compared to the fees of other provinces ranging from $ 2,606 to a high of $ 6,571 in Nova Scotia. Table 7- Average undergraduate tuition fees9 1990/ 1991 2001/ 2002 2005/ 2006 2006/ 2007 1990/1991 to 2006/2007 2001/2002 to 2006/2007 2005/2006 to 2006/2007 current dollars % change Canada 1,464 3,577 4,211 4,347 196.9 21.5 3.2 Newfoundland and Labrador 1,344 3,036 2,606 2,606 93.9 -14.1 0.0 Prince Edward Island 1,874 3,710 4,645 4,947 164.0 33.3 6.5 Nova Scotia 1,941 4,855 6,323 6,571 238.6 35.3 3.9 New Brunswick 1,925 3,863 5,037 5,328 176.8 37.9 5.8 Quebec 904 1,843 1,900 1,916 111.9 4.0 0.8 Ontario 1,680 4,492 4,933 5,160 207.1 14.9 4.6 Manitoba 1,512 3,243 3,333 3,338 120.8 2.9 0.2 Saskatchewan 1,545 3,879 5,063 5,063 227.8 30.5 0.0 Alberta 1,286 4,030 4,838 4,828 275.3 19.8 -0.2 British Columbia 1,808 2,527 4,867 4,960 174.3 96.3 1.9 Table 8- Average undergraduate additional compulsory fees 10 2001/2002 2005/2006 2006/2007 2001/2002 to 2006/2007 2005/2006 to 2006/2007 current dollars % change Canada 462 595 619 33.7 4.0 Newfoundland and Labrador 366 466 466 27.2 0.0 Prince Edward Island 415 584 728 75.4 24.7 Nova Scotia 380 519 572 50.5 10.3 New Brunswick 208 345 341 64.0 -1.2 Quebec 426 596 624 46.5 4.7 Ontario 554 695 729 31.6 4.9 Manitoba 371 352 458 23.4 30.2 Saskatchewan 493 456 431 -12.6 -5.5 Alberta 447 557 567 27.1 1.8 British Columbia 345 476 442 28.2 -7.1 Aside from the tuition fees, there is also an increase in the compulsory fees. Compulsory fees ranges from $ 341 to a high of $729 and this make up 12.5% 11 of the total fees which a student is required to pay. Compulsory fees cover recreation, student health services and student association services among others. 12 Undergraduate students from Quebec continue to pay the lowest tuition fees in Canada. This is the after effect of a tuition freeze in the latter part of the 1990s which benefits Quebec residents, since they only pay fees at less than half of the national average. However, it should be noted that with regards out of province students, the fees are roughly $4,500 13 per academic year and foreigners pay more than double of the aforementioned fees. Table 9- Increase in young adult population 14 With the substantial increase in enrolment as per academic year 2003-2004 which was attributed to an increase in number of students aged 18-24, as well as Ontario's double cohort,15 adding to these are students from other countries enrolled at Canadian Universities. Table 10- University enrolment by province 16 1997/98 2002/03 2003/04 1997/98 to 2003/04 2002/03 to 2003/04 % change1 Canada2 822,800 933,900 990,400 20.4 6.1 Newfoundland and Labrador 15,800 16,900 17,600 11.1 3.8 Prince Edward Island 2,900 3,600 3,900 31.5 8.3 Nova Scotia 37,100 41,900 44,800 20.7 6.9 New Brunswick 22,700 24,700 25,600 12.7 3.7 Quebec 232,100 250,800 260,100 12.0 3.7 Ontario 303,400 360,300 394,700 30.1 9.6 Manitoba 30,800 35,200 38,000 23.4 8.2 Saskatchewan 31,200 34,300 34,600 10.7 0.9 Alberta 71,400 83,400 86,300 20.8 3.4 British Columbia 75,300 82,900 85,000 12.9 2.5 1. Percentages are based on actual, non-rounded figures. 2. Enrolment figures may not add up due to rounding. The increase in student population should be addressed by the provincial and federal government respectively. In line with the Quebec Government's policy among which is the Youth Protection Act, it is but proper to fully address the youth's access to university education. Financial assistance in the form of Loans and Bursaries Programs should be intensified so as to meet the rising costs of tuition and supplemental fees. Table 11- Average tuition fees by faculty 17 2005/2006 2006/2007 2005/2006 to 2006/2007 current dollars % change Agriculture 3,643 3,712 1.9 Architecture 3,610 3,805 5.4 Arts 3,982 4,104 3.1 Commerce 3,806 3,989 4.8 Dentistry 13,033 13,463 3.3 Education 3,277 3,334 1.8 Engineering 4,740 4,887 3.1 Household sciences 3,914 4,037 3.1 Law 6,904 7,221 4.6 Medicine 10,318 10,553 2.3 Music 3,936 4,092 3.9 Science 4,219 4,353 3.2 Undergraduate 4,211 4,347 3.2 Graduate 6,134 6,479 5.6 The fast rising cost of tuition fees which is on the average of 3.2% for the academic year 2006-2007 is said to be rising faster vis-vis the rate of inflation. From this, it can be concluded that tuition fees are approximately four times the average rate of inflation as per the Consumer Price Index18. With the increase in tuition fees, all professional fields have likewise increased in tuition since academic year 2001-2002. The average tuition by field of study shows that there is a high percentage of change for academic year 2005-2006 of 5.6% for Graduate Students and 5.4% for Architecture students and the lowest rate of increase is for Education students which are only 1.8%. Dentistry remained to be the most expensive program at $ 13,463 for academic year 2006-2007. Quebec residents are fortunate enough to hold the distinction of paying the lowest tuition fees in all of Canada. Notwithstanding this, it should be noted that there is also an increase in the University's complimentary of supplemental fee which costs as much as $1000. University officials argued that they have to generate additional income to defray expenses, there being no increase in tuition fees. Additionally, they argued that the supplemental fees allow the University to address the variety of services to the students. Based on the foregoing, it can be assumed that there is a need for educational reforms so as to make university education available to a greater number of people. Despite calls for Quebec's increase in tuition fees as lobbied by some universities, the provincial government should maintain the freeze of tuition fees and at the same time be open for educational reforms so as to make university education accessible to all. There is a need to fully implement the University Funding Policy so as to address the deficit experienced by Quebec Universities. There is a need to fully implement the University Funding Policy so as to address the deficit experienced by Quebec Universities particularly those which concerns public funds management as well as the operating and investment grants. The -85,362 deficit for Quebec should be addressed accordingly by granting new subsidies to the universities so as to maintain its standards without compromising the fees which the students have to pay. Since an increase in tuition fees is synonymous to non-accessibility of post education to poorer students. With respect to the level of tuition fees out of the province and international students should pay a different level of tuition fees but it should not be as high as what they are currently paying. And Quebec residents are entitled to the privilege of lower fees, a privilege of being a Quebec Resident. Having the privilege of subsidy form the government as well as the tuition freezes, these privileges should work for the benefit of the students both the residents, non-residents and international students as well. With respect to the rising costs of supplemental fees, it should be supervised and controlled. The government should take the initiative of regulating it like what they do with tuition fees. It is because the increase in tuition fees cannot be in the guise of an increase in the supplemental fees. The Right to education is a universal right. Its importance has been discussed in the outset. The development of the individual and the society depends on it. For it is through education that an individual develop and realizes his or her potential to the fullest and as such, it plays an important role so as to endow the individual with knowledge which will eventually make him a productive member of society. Works Cited http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/higher-education/ http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt41b.htm Quebec Policy on University Funding. Ministere de l' Education, 2000 http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040902/d040902a.htm http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2006/09/01/tuition-statistics.html http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060901/d060901a.htm http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/educ50f.htm Scrap the Tuition Cap, November 16, 2004. http://www.daifallah.com/scrao.htm http://ctr.concordia.ca/2003-04/mar_18/01/ http://www.mcgilltribunecom/media/storage/paper234/news/2004/10/13News/News-Special.Tuition. Across Canada-750842.shtmlnorewrite200610120609&sourcedomain=www.mcgilltribune.com Read More