Government extends tuition freeze

Above: Minister Schmidt announces an extension of the tuition and fees freeze at MacEwan University.

by Morinville News Staff

Continuing the freeze on tuition and fees through the 2018-19 academic year will keep post-secondary education affordable and accessible for 250,000 full and part-time students and apprentices, the Government of Alberta said Thursday.

The government says student starting studies in September 2018 in a program charging the average tuition rate will save about $1,500 in tuition costs over four years.

“By keeping costs frozen our government has ensured affordable access to post-secondary education,” said Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education in a release Thursday. “We know that affordable post-secondary education is important to Albertans and is key to our growing economy. That is why we are freezing tuition for another year as we prepare to bring forward long-term tuition and funding policies in the new year.”

Reed Larson, chair, Council of Alberta University Students, said students are thrilled to see that the government has heard them and ensured that post-secondary education remains affordable and accessible.

“The Council of Alberta University Students thanks the government for freezing tuition while ensuring institutions are funded appropriately so that budgeting restraints do not impact students,” Larson said.

The province says the tuition and fee freeze will be accompanied by a corresponding backfill payment to publicly funded institutions with provincially regulated tuition.

The province is reviewing tuition and funding models for all post-secondary institutions to ensure post-secondary education remains accessible, sustainable and affordable over the long term, and will announce information about long-term tuition and funding strategies in the new year.

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1 Comment

  1. AHHHHH!!! Me smells an Provincial Election coming… But wait there will be more FREE BEES coming. Do not know how they are going pay for them….. OH YA.. Duh is me…. more TAXES remember folks the CARBON TAX goes up 2018… NDPeed OFF’s Please call an election Soon!!!!

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