Multiple rallies planned at Ontario high schools to protest changes to student loan system

Hundreds of high school students are planning to walk out of class Monday afternoon in protest of provincial changes in OSAP funding that could see students graduate with a mountain of debt or even deciding not to go to college at all.

The province is revamping how the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) works, slashing the amount that eligible students can get in the form of grants from 85 per cent of their eligible amount to a maximum of 25 percent.

Previously, a student who received $40,000 in funds from the program would have a debt of about $6,000 on graduation. Now, that debt load would rocket to $30,000.

Peggy Amienyaru, a Grade 12 student at Courtice Secondary in Clarington, said the changes will affect the future of a lot of her fellow students.

“The changes will turn the program upside down,” said Amienyaru, who is one of the organizers of the walkout at her school. “A lot of low-income students won’t be able to go to college at all.”

Amienyaru, who was hoping to go to the University of Toronto in the fall to study social sciences, said she expects about 100 students to take part in the protest at Courtice Secondary, which will happen during fourth period at 1:10 p.m.

Nearly 20 schools in the Kawartha Pine Ridge, Durham Public and Durham Catholic school boards are also expected to participate, she said.

Many students all over Ontario are denouncing the changes, which effectively moves the OSAP funding model from a grants-based system to a loan-based system, pushing students further into debt in an uncertain job market and downloading the cost of education onto the backs of the students.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, however, defended the changes and accused students of taking “basket-weaving courses” instead of programs that lead to jobs.

“You are taking tax dollars and you have to be held accountable when you take tax dollars. It’s not a freebie anymore, money doesn’t grow on trees.”

NDP leader Marit Stiles called the OSAP changes a “terrible, terrible decision” and said Ford’s comments show the premier as being “out of touch.”

Labour and student organizations also called Ford out for the funding changes, with Adaeze Mbalaja from the Canadian Federation of Students saying the “detrimental decision” will mean more students graduating with increased student debt, jeopardizing students’ financial future.

The government also announced an end to a tuition freeze, with post-secondary institutions allowed to increase tuition every year by two per cent for three years, starting in September.

“These changes, paired with a tuition fee increase and the ministry’s decision to continue downloading the cost of education onto students will not stabilize OSAP – but rather lock students out from accessing support they need,” Mbalaja said. “The changes to OSAP into a primarily loans program will burden the next generation of students with more student debt than ever before.”