Volume 96, Issue 21
Thursday October 3, 2002
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Foreign pocket drain
By Kelly
Marcella
Gazette Staff
With tuition fees rising across the board, the Canadian Federation of Students is attempting to lower the bar for international students.
According to Pam Frache, campaigns and government relations co-ordinator for the CFS, international students should pay the same tuition fees as domestic students.
"[International students] are subsidizing the cost for administrations. Essentially, it's a cash grab," Frache said, adding tuition fees for international students are not based on objective criteria, but on what the market can bear.
Frache said the high cost for international students ensures that only a certain type of student can access post-secondary education.
"It's increasingly becoming whose who can pay for their seats and it should be those who have academic drive," she said.
Frache noted underfunding by Ontario's Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is putting upward pressure to increase tuition fees.
According to Greg Moran, Western's VP-academic, the main reason international students pay more is because their families do not contribute to the tax base, as do the parents of Canadian students.
"I don't see them as being that high especially considering that if you make them a lot lower, there will be serious public policy issues – when you think of the tax base," Moran said.
"The fees would not support calling it a cash grab," Moran said, adding he feels international students should pay a higher fee than Canadian students.
According to Bruce Skeaff, media co-ordinator for the Ministry, the number of international students in Ontario has increased steadily. Skeaff said between 1997 and 2001 there has been a 90 per cent increase, with 9,051 international students in 1997 and 17,198 in 2001.
"[As for the fees], it is entirely up to the university. We have nothing to do with that," Skeaff said.
"Our universities are provincially funded to provide education for Ontario students," said Arnice Cadieux, executive director of public affairs for the Council of Ontario Universities.
"I understand the universities' concern and why they charge separate tuition, but the levels [international students] are paying are very high," said Josh Morgan, VP-education for the University Students' Council.
Morgan noted international students do not fall under the Western guarantee, which states no student will be unable to attend the university because of financial reasons.
"We want international students on our campus, not necessarily those who can afford it," Morgan said.
"I don't mind paying more, but double the amount is ridiculous," said Fazal Juman, a fourth-year economics and arts student from Barbados, adding he felt the separate fees were fair.