Funding our Future in Education

For Immediate Release September 16, 2008

Funding our Future in Education

(Halifax) – Nova Scotian students headed back to school with more then academics in mind. With a federal election date set, students will look to their federal leaders for a vision on Post-Secondary Education in Canada.

Every September, Nova Scotia’s population swells as the province welcomes thousands of out-of-province students. In 2006-2007, over 14,000 students from out-of-province selected one of Nova Scotia’s eleven Universities or thirteen Community Colleges to pursue their studies.

These out-of-province students face unique financial challenges to their education. Students who have moved to Nova Scotia for Post-Secondary are required to pay approximately $1000 in additional tuition, when compared with Nova Scotian residents. For example, this academic year, an Acadia Student from Halifax would pay $5891 in tuition, versus an Acadia student from Ottawa who would pay $6652 in tuition fees.

This differential fee is a result of the Federal government funding our institutions though an equation that disserves the province of Nova Scotia. Currently, the Federal model distributes education funding to the provinces on a per capita basis. Essentially, the Federal government examines the overall population of the province, without consideration of post-secondary participation rates of out-of-province students, and allocates the monies accordingly. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of students attending University in Nova Scotia are originally from outside the province. As one of the highest importers of students, this funding deficit leaves Nova Scotia’s out-of-province students bearing the brunt of this underfunding.

As Nova Scotia prepares for significant demographic and labor market challenges, students urge our government to recognize our Post Secondary Institutions as a mechanism of prosperity by funding our system on a per-student basis.
Approximately 20% of students who come to Nova Scotia from outside the province make Nova Scotia their long- term home post-graduation. This student immigrant population provides the province with resources to mitigate the pending labor shortage and fill gaps in our economy.

“In this changing economy, we know that Nova Scotians will head to the polls with education on their minds. The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations is committed to working with stakeholders, students and partners to help Nova Scotians raise the profile of differential tuition with our federal government,” says Matt Risser, President of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations.

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