Panel to probe barriers to higher education

The Ontario government wants a thorough study on how to get more first-generation Canadians into post-secondary education.

The province is setting up an advisory committee to look into the issue, with a particular focus on kids from immigrant families in which neither parent has gone on to the next level of education after high school, said Chris Bentley, Ontario's minister of training, colleges and universities.

The committee will also look more broadly at what is needed to get students from any low-income families into college or university.

The province must "ensure that students — wherever they are in this province, whatever background they come from — have access to what post-secondary education offers," he said.

The committee will look at whether there are psychological, economic, distance or other barriers that prevent first-generation students from deciding to go on with their education.

Students need to know the value of a post-secondary degree and how it can help them be more successful, said Premier Dalton McGuinty, adding the province has to help them reach for that goal.

"The reason that initiative is so important is because we have an ongoing challenge," he said.

"It turns out that it's just much less likely that if your Mom or Dad didn't go to college or university that you're going to go on to college or university."

"Once we get the first generation in there, then we can maintain that sense of momentum."

Within a few weeks, Ontario will announce the rules under which universities and colleges can raise tuition in the future.

But Bentley said that shouldn't call into question the timing of this committee's formation. He said his government has worked toward reforming student aid, restoring education grants and improving access as it examined lifting the tuition freeze so fees could rise.

"Let's be clear, we want access for everybody on the basis of what their ability is, not their pocketbook," he said. "But if you just talk about the tuition policy, you're not necessarily ensuring access."

While the committee won't develop a formal report, it will give advice to the minister. Bentley said the committee could come up with proposals that could be implemented immediately.

Funding for the advisory committee comes from within the ministry's budget, set last spring.

Source:http://www.gateway.ualberta.ca/view.php?aid=5398