Students urge parties to implement access guarantee

For Immediate Release June 2, 2009

(Sydney) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, is calling on all parties to commit to ensuring no eligible Nova Scotian student is denied the right to a post secondary education for financial reasons alone.

Early last week, ANSSA released a report card on each party’s higher education platform. One area where all parties received poor marks was in increasing the accessibility of our post-secondary education system.

“We’ve seen politicians give lip service to issues like tuition levels and university infrastructure,” explains Cape Breton University Students’ Union President, Ricky McCarthy. “Unfortunately, certain groups continue to face unique barriers and are underrepresented in our university system. The measures the parties are proposing won’t help them.”

Aboriginal Nova Scotians, African Nova Scotians, and first generation university attendees are the three groups that are underrepresented the least in our university system. Additionally, rural Nova Scotians face increased difficulties in pursuing a higher education in our province.

ANSSA is recommending that the next government improve the accessibility of our university and college system by using the following policy tools:

• The creation of a foundation to fund community based early outreach projects to encourage participation in higher education from underrepresented groups.
• The development of a comprehensive, up-front grants program targeted at underrepresented groups and those who face unique barriers in pursuing higher education
• The development of a straightforward and transparent appeals mechanism for students who are disadvantaged by the Nova Scotia Student Loan program.

“We’re not convinced that any of the parties are heading in the right direction on this issue,” declared Mark Coffin, ANSSA Executive Director. “When we talk about access, we’re talking about ensuring that every dollar spent in student assistance is spent as efficiently as possible, and ensuring that it goes directly to the students who need it the most. Right now, we’re not convinced any of the parties have a plan to make that happen.”

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