Photo credit: CBC
Students across the province protested recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) – the post-secondary financial aid system which will go from a majority grant structure to a majority loan structure in the new school year.
CBC News reports that hundreds of students rallied outside Queen’s Park in Toronto, while hundreds more walked out of class in Waterloo in protest. Earlier this week, high school students in Oshawa also led a walkout.
More than 200 people, including high school and university students protested in St Catharines, Ont., outside Brock University and in front of local NDP MPP Jennie Stevens’ office, who was there to support them.
Toronto protesters chanted and banged drums in unison, calling for Premier Doug Ford and Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn to resign and take their “hands off post-secondary education.
“No cuts, no fees, no corporate universities,” yelled Toronto demonstrators.
Education should not be another financial burden on students already facing insecurity with rising costs for food and rent, said Cynthia Ngeleke with CFS-Ontario.
“Education should be a pathway out of precarity, not another bill students are expected to absorb,” she said, adding teachers, community workers and parents had also joined protesters in Toronto.
Last month, Quinn announced a new $6.4-billion funding model over four years, which do not have to be repaid – and a minimum of 15 percent as loans that need to be paid back.
Currently, students can receive a maximum of 85 percent grants which do not have to be repaid – and a minimum of 15 percent as loans that need to be paid back.
But in the new year, OSAP funding for eligible students will be reduced to a maximum of 25 percent for grants, with funding for loans increased to a maximum of 75 percent.
“Like so many young Ontario students, I feel disappointed and at a loss of control for what the Ford government has decided to do with OSAP,” University of Toronto student Naicey Portus said.
She said she’ll be among the crowds of students outside Queen’s Park at the “Hands Off Our Education” protest.
Videos captured by CBC News showed students and Toronto Police clashed at the protest on Wednesday afternoon. At one point, a protester approached and yelled at an officer, only to be shoved back into the crowd.
Toronto police spokesperson Amy Davey said the rally had started off peacefully on Wednesday, but that there were two arrests in the afternoon for mischief, assault and obstruction of police.
