Students Welcome Government Decision to Seek External Advice on Post-Secondary Education System

For immediate release: January 22, 2010

(Halifax) – Representatives from the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) are welcoming a provincial government decision to conduct a review of post-secondary education. ANSSA has been advocating for a comprehensive review for over five years, and spokespeople are happy to see government taking steps towards preparing a long term vision for higher education.

Economist and former bank executive Tim O’Neil has been appointed to provide advice and recommendations to government on the matter. The terms of reference for his work focus largely on the sustainability of financing for the university system in the future.

“The government is in a difficult situation when it comes to funding the university system in our province,” said Emma Cullen, Chair of ANSSA. “We’ll be working to ensure that the voices of students and individuals underrepresented in the university system aren’t lost during larger discussions of university financing.”

Reviews of post-secondary education in other provinces have been given more explicit mandates to address issues of accessibility to higher education. However, ANSSA Executive Director, Mark Coffin, says that the solutions to some of the fiscal problems of the universities may lie in increasing access to higher education.

“Our organization is eager to work with Mr. O’Neil and ensure accessibility and affordability of higher education are topics addressed by his report,” added Coffin.

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