McMaster University reaction to Rae Report

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/rae_report.jpg” caption=”Rae Report in Postsecondary Education“]Recommendations in the Rae Report in Postsecondary Education, released today, give the Ontario government a clear path forward to building stronger and sustainable universities and colleges, says Peter George, president of McMaster University.

“Competition for scarce government resources is intense but if we are to realize our economic and social aspirations as a province, and as a country, then we have to have a postsecondary education system to match. Quality requires investment by all partners.”

George says Rae's recommendation that Ontario invest at least $1.3 billion in new base funding into universities and colleges by 2007-08 is welcome. “Not only does it address our ongoing concerns about maintaining accessibility and building quality, it brings into balance the investment students, the public and private partners need to make in postsecondary education.” The recommended funding also recognizes the importance of building support for graduate education and in establishing funding stability for university research.

“We're also very encouraged by Mr. Rae's commitment that every qualified student in Ontario will find a place in college or university regardless of means, and to ensuring that a strong and sustainable student assistance program is developed that includes the re-establishment of the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund and special tuition grants for low income students,” says George. Tuition is only one part of the cost of higher education, and Rae's call for loans to more adequately assist with living costs will go a long way to helping students and their families.

George says, “Premier McGuinty has made education a priority for Ontario and we are confident that the government will find the resources within the province to give students the opportunity to be the best that they can be, to support universities and colleges so that they can keep Ontario competitive in a world of increasing globalization, and to truly make education a cornerstone of Ontario's future success.”

Erin Robinson, vice-president education with the McMaster Students Union, says the report is encouraging for students. “The report is definitely encouraging as one of the recommendations being made is in line with a lot of things we've been saying … it recognizes that major changes are needed to the student assistance program before tuition levels increase.”

She says the spotlight now falls on the McGuinty government to respond to Rae's recommendations. “The report recognizes that the system is under funded. So the focus now is on the Liberal government to put these changes in place.”