The Difficulties of International Students in Canada
According to the Huffington Post Canada,the Canadian education system is attractive to students from around the globe. There were 266,620 international students circa 2016 based on data from Statistics Canada.
It was estimated by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) that the tuition for international students is more than three times the cost of the students from Canada, the domestic students. Once in Canadian higher education, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities reports that they face a number of big problems.
These issues can include feeling alienated, having to deal with finances, integrating family life with academics, and then accessing the labour market of Canada. “Taking the first step and participating in programs already in place would help in feeling integrated, settled, and ultimately achieving success,” the Huffington Post Canada said.
Survey Done on the Costs of Post-Secondary Education
A press release was released about a survey by Universitas Barometer. They worked in conjunction with CROP polling firm to look into the real costs associated with post-secondary education. Those costs are “a significant concern for 68% of Quebecers aged 18 to 24 years old, as well as for 78% of the parents surveyed.”
32% said the costs were the reason why they decided not to pursue their education. 94% of students and 97% of parents agreed on the importance of education. 26% of students between the ages of 18-24 who considered education important were “not enrolled in post-secondary studies” at the time of the survey.
Many surveyed students were motivated because of the financial contribution from their parents. Some details on Quebec students:
· 53% received financial support from their parents (source of the funds not specified)
· 39% benefited from the Loan and Bursaries Program
· 22% received educational assistance payments (EAPs) from a registered education savings plan (RESP)
To see more details, even tips, please see here.
Education Advocates Get Backlash for tweets
CBC News: Calgary reported on an Alberta education advocacy group “being slammed on social media for suggesting the deadly violence last weekend in the United States is a cautionary tale against alternative schools.”
The advocacy organization is called Save Our Schools Alberta (SOS Alberta) tweeted about the Charlottesville, Va. Unite the Right rally. The tweet said the rally “reaffirms for us why we cannot afford to segregate our children [] not by class, race, culture, religion or ability.”
Barbara Silva, SOS Alberta spokesperson, stated the organization examines the “institutional systems that create barriers or inequality for children.” Silva noted the aim was to link the recent events for proactive dialogue around all barriers for students.
UNB Professor Argues for Pleasure in Sex Education
CBC News: New Brunswick said, “A University of New Brunswick professor is calling for changes in sex education in the province after talking to young people about their intimate lives.” The study by Lucia OSullivan used a sample size of 400 people aged 16 to 21.
These study participants described their sexual problems. OSullivan said she thought their sex lives would be fine, but that sexual problems were “very high.” The problems for young peoples sex lives were from the get-go.
When asked to have a pleasurable sex life, students didn’t know exactly how to answer the questions, OSullivan reported. She thinks students should be given the appropriate information because the withholding of information doesnt help. She believes we should work to give them the proper platform, so students can have an enjoyable sex life as they grow “fully into their adulthood.”
Canadian Students and Teachers Earn High Praise
“A recent BBC article called Canada “an education superpower.” It referred to the fact that, in recent years, Canadian students results in literacy, mathematics and science are among the best in the world.
Were in the same echelon as countries like Finland and Singapore,” The Record said.
The article took information from a study by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). In Canada, because of the British North America Act of 1867, the provincial governments play a larger role in educational policy than the federal government.
The author noted a large number of immigrant children in Canadian schools. Canada is seen as having “a common commitment to an equal chance in school.” An important point was the small gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged students.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen is AUSUs VPFA. He works with various organizations, and runs In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, and In-Sight Publishing.