A new study, released today in all three Maritime provinces, examines the issues of most concern to students when they are deciding whether or not to pursue post-secondary education.
The cost of post-secondary education and the increased level of debt are the most significant factors, particularly for students from lower-income households. Although students were concerned about the levels of debt they would incur, they also felt that post-secondary education would be essential to their future participation in the labour market and that they had very little choice but to pay whatever the costs might be.
"The issue of increasing levels of student debt is one of great concern to our government," said Chester Gillan, Minister of Education. "We are hoping that our provincial debt forgiveness program will partially address this problem. In addition, PEI has urged the federal government to implement a federal debt forgiveness or loan remission program similar to what we have in our province. Federal loans make up a large proportion of student debt -at least 60% of it."
Conducted by the Angus Reid Group, the study had three parts: an analysis of existing data; a qualitative look at the issue through the experience of students in 19 focus groups; and a survey of Maritime students who were graduating from high school. The focus groups consisted of Grade 12 students, students in the first year of a post-secondary programme, post-secondary students who were carrying substantial
amounts of debt, and students who had left their respective post-secondary programmes.
The steering committee for this study was made up of representatives from all three provincial governments as well as several post-secondary institutions.
Through the coordination of the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, the project was sponsored by the Departments of Education for all three provinces.
For more information contact: Mike Clow, Higher Education and Training, Department of Education at (902)368-4670