Students at several high schools across the region are planning walkouts this week to protest changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
At John Diefenbaker Senior School in Hanover, students left class at 12:30pm Wednesday joining a province-wide demonstration.
The protests focus on changes introduced by the Government of Ontario that reduce the maximum eligible grant portion of OSAP funding from 85 percent to 25 percent. Under the new structure, at least 75 percent of assistance will be provided as loans, which are subject to interest.
The province has also ended a seven-year tuition fee freeze, allowing post-secondary institutions to increase tuition by up to two percent annually.
Grade 12 student Vivian Bender, one of the organizers of the Hanover walkout, says she became involved after hearing about the changes and learning that no local protest had yet been planned.
Bender says some of her fellow students are concerned the changes could limit access to higher education, “I’ve had multiple people talk to me about how education is no longer in the cards for them if they cannot get some better grants. 85% was our highest point but practically no one was getting that and practically no one will be getting 25%”
Bender said her own future education was still possible but more challenging, “It’ll still be me who pays for the bulk of it, I’m going to have to work though university and that will affect my studies. My little sister, her education might be affected by this because my parents will have to juggle both mine and hers. I’ve calculated around $80,000 at least in debt for tuition, books and everything I’m going to need”.
She also noted that many Grade 12 students, including herself, were not eligible to vote in the last provincial election, but are directly affected by the policy changes. Bender says “I was not old enough to vote in this last election but next time I definitely will be and I will be making sure that education is secured as an interest”.
Other walkouts occurred Wednesday at area schools including Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton and Georgian Bay Community School in Meaford.
Meanwhile, students at Owen Sound District Secondary School have moved their demonstration to Thursday due to weather concerns.
Organizers say supporters are welcome to attend or contact their local MPPs to express their views on the changes to the student aid program.