In the last two decades of the twentieth century, government funding cuts to public education at all levels led schools to seek new sources of funding.
The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) notes that the federal government cuts for post-secondary education have forced universities to find ways to make up for the lost revenue. And so, they increased tuition both for Canadian citizens and international students. The federation claims that tuition fees for undergraduate programs have more than doubled since the early 1980s.
Free University Today
Although a few select free universities remain in the world, the general global trend points towards a decrease in public funding and an increase in tuition fees and revenue-generating programs. As government spending on education at all levels decreases and the need for resources (especially in the form of computers, audio-visual equipment and other technological needs) increases, it becomes more and more difficult for schools to cover their costs. Like other countries, the concept of a free university education in Canada is not a reality for most students. The exception is those students who are considered academically gifted and are awarded scholarships to offset the costs of their education.
Canada has 163 recognized public and private universities (including theological schools). According to Statistics Canada, $30.6 billion was spent on post-secondary education in Canada in 2005–2006. In 2004–2005, Statistics Canada reported that government funding accounted for 54.2 percent of the revenue, which also takes research grants into account. This encompassed funding from federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.Students’ tuition covered only one-fifth of the total revenues of post-secondary institutions that year, totaling 20 percent of the total. The remaining 25 percent came from other sources such as non-government grants, investments, donations, bequests from alumni and others, and finally, from sales of products and services offered by the institutions.
Universities continue to grapple with the question of how to pay for increasing costs, while ensuring students do not have to pay the high tuition charged by private schools.
In the last two decades of the twentieth century, government funding cuts to public education at all levels led schools to seek new sources of funding.
The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) notes that the federal government cuts for post-secondary education have forced universities to find ways to make up for the lost revenue. And so, they increased tuition both for Canadian citizens and international students. The federation claims that tuition fees for undergraduate programs have more than doubled since the early 1980s.
Free University Today
Although a few select free universities remain in the world, the general global trend points towards a decrease in public funding and an increase in tuition fees and revenue-generating programs. As government spending on education at all levels decreases and the need for resources (especially in the form of computers, audio-visual equipment and other technological needs) increases, it becomes more and more difficult for schools to cover their costs. Like other countries, the concept of a free university education in Canada is not a reality for most students. The exception is those students who are considered academically gifted and are awarded scholarships to offset the costs of their education.
Canada has 163 recognized public and private universities (including theological schools). According to Statistics Canada, $30.6 billion was spent on post-secondary education in Canada in 2005–2006. In 2004–2005, Statistics Canada reported that government funding accounted for 54.2 percent of the revenue, which also takes research grants into account. This encompassed funding from federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments. Students’ tuition covered only one-fifth of the total revenues of post-secondary institutions that year, totaling 20 percent of the total. The remaining 25 percent came from other sources such as non-government grants, investments, donations, bequests from alumni and others, and finally, from sales of products and services offered by the institutions.
Universities continue to grapple with the question of how to pay for increasing costs, while ensuring students do not have to pay the high tuition charged by private schools.
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