Sue's Blog

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Put the Choice to Students

Let's get to it.

Lower tuition - and greater non-repayable grants for students moving to St. John's to study at MUN (yes I still call it that) - might be more attractive to students. That's who we are doing it for - right?

In order to keep graduates in the province we must lower the debt burden on students. I have listened to them and their union reps for over a decade requesting lower tuition (if not free) lower interest and more assistance for students who have to move to St. John's. I have not heard them bellow for Grenfell's independence.

What is most important is that quality education is offered and at a reasonable price. Considering the return on investment the province receives from an educated population - tuition should be free.

Accessibility should be extended to Central and Labrador - with the remainder of the investment to lower tuition.

Has the student body had a vote? How may students participate? We have children under 10 traveling in buses for hours to get to primary and elementary - surely our students can travel - but the cost should be covered.

I want to hear want the student body has to say - and I want to hear it before a final decision is made. If not the Grenfell separation is nothing more than a politicians legacy to himself.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just heard a caller to VOCM Open Line urging you to seek a seat in government. He would like you to participate in government and institute your ideas. Especially those surrounding utilizing the province's resources to create industry here instead of exporting them out to places like Ontario and Rhode Island, etc.

Sue you should particpate with a hands on approach, since you have ideas which are need to be put in place.

I would like your comment on that idea. Maybe you can comment here on why you haven't done that, what are the obstacles in your way?

BornandBred said...

Hi Sue Good Column, My take on the Grenfell issue was posted here

http://newfoundlandincanada.blogspot.com/2007/08/mun-ii-with-vengence.html

Essentially my argument is that MUN itself has been very poor in being University for the entire province. The board of regents are academic snobs for the most part who like to exist beyond government interference.

But I do appreciate the fact that we shouldn't be absorbing a huge cost for the university at this point in our history. So my question is two fold - The statement made that Grenfell will be the most expensive university per capita - where does it sit now as a college? Does the shift from university to college imply this huge investment or is it already a huge investment?

The second part of my question is how does the university propose to represent Nain, and Cartwright, Corner Brook and Grand Falls? Because what it has been doing is shameful.

Sue Kelland-Dyer said...

Good questions...

Anonymous said...

Sue, do not seek a seat. Create a new party. You will just be totally silenced in government. Go a step further and make the party a seperatist one. We now need our Levesque. He knew what to do with energy and so do you.

Anonymous said...

Kalvinovich - couldnt have said it better myself ,time to "Resurrect" the Newfoundland and Labrador Party.

Even if we could just get one seat Sue,the chances of turning our home around would be great if we could only take the shock to Canada.It just takes "ONE" seat.