Public Interest Alberta launched an advocacy campaign yesterday to challenge government cuts to post-secondary education.
PIA says investing in post-secondary education is “vital in these difficult economic times,” and that deeper cuts will reduce the quality of education in Alberta. Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director, said the province may cut as much as $40 million in funding, but the amount hasn’t yet been formally announced.
“For next year, institutions have been told that their best case scenario is a zero per cent increase,” said Moore Kilgannon. “That zero per cent — when you have inflation, when you have more and more students trying to get in — means a cut.”
Beverly Eastham of the U of A Students’ Union says further cuts will make it harder for students to get into post-secondary institutions at a time when many Albertans are returning to school “seeking skills and sustainable employment.”
