How fair is the student protest?

[jacee]

I don't disagree but society's ability to pay is limited and should be reserved for those who need it most.

'Means testing' for loans/grants always seems like a logical idea,

But in reality it's an expensive bureaucracy with the banks taking a good profit.

[Boges]

'Means testing' for loans/grants always seems like a logical idea,

But in reality it's an expensive bureaucracy with the banks taking a good profit.

Is it less expensive to just give everyone that wants it Student Loans?

[unChosen]

Only if that person remains resident in this country. If it is worth some investment from government it should also be worth something to the person receiving it. I don't have a problem with assisting people who are disadvantaged but free secondary education for all. No way.

The problem is what exactly qualifies as "disadvantaged"? As a student who just graduated in BC, I had first hand experience going through lists of grants, scholarships, and bursaries. The problem is that they nearly all have extremely strict criterion:

1. For the smartest of the smart only. So many of these scholarships/grants/bursaries requires A or above averages...and even if it doesn't chances are they'll be given to those with A/A+ averages anyways because there are no limit to the number of grants/scholarships/bursaries one can receiver.

2. For the extremely poor only. If a student works 2 part time jobs while studying full time and barely making ends meet...he/she has less chance of obtaining a grant/bursary compared to those who does no jobs. The system gives no incentives to hard workers at all.

3. For those who dedicate their lives to the community. Once again, students who are living with wealthy parents have far more time to dedicate hours and hours volunteering in comparison to students working multiple jobs.

In conclusion, what ends up happening is that a select few students grabs all the scholarships/grants/bursaries, in which a portion of those students does not even need those financial help at all. The one student I know in university with the most scholarships and grants comes from a well off family that paid for everything so she can focus all her time on studying and volunteering.

As for loans, unless the student manages to get a high paying job relatively soon after he/she graduates any benefits of the loan would end up disappearing into the black hole that is compound interest. It's why we hear so many horror stories of 50+ year old worker still paying off student loan.

IMO, loans should not have have interest higher than inflation and the interest calculation should only start after a student gets an income higher than a certain amount...at least enough that he/she can reduce the debt rather than accumulating or breaking even.

It's fortunate for me that my parents had RESP for me so the loan was paid in full immediately after I graduated.

Edited May 24, 2012 by unChosen

[Guest Peeves]

I don't disagree but society's ability to pay is limited and should be reserved for those who need it most.

Funny isn't it how they have time to spend on rioting(euphemism demonstrating), but don' apparently have time to take a job to pay for their tuition. One interviewed said (whining) "some of us are spending up to 6 hours a day demonstrating"...gee I feel so bad for them.

I know kids that are too busy working part time, attending school and don't have time to rumble in the streets. Of course those in the streets want to stop those wanting to go to school and of all things, call them scabs!

[Guest Peeves]

The problem is what exactly qualifies as "disadvantaged"? As a student who just graduated in BC, I had first hand experience going through lists of grants, scholarships, and bursaries. The problem is that they nearly all have extremely strict criterion:

1. For the smartest of the smart only. So many of these scholarships/grants/bursaries requires A or above averages...and even if it doesn't chances are they'll be given to those with A/A+ averages anyways because there are no limit to the number of grants/scholarships/bursaries one can receiver.

2. For the extremely poor only. If a student works 2 part time jobs while studying full time and barely making ends meet...he/she has less chance of obtaining a grant/bursary compared to those who does no jobs. The system gives no incentives to hard workers at all.

3. For those who dedicate their lives to the community. Once again, students who are living with wealthy parents have far more time to dedicate hours and hours volunteering in comparison to students working multiple jobs.

In conclusion, what ends up happening is that a select few students grabs all the scholarships/grants/bursaries, in which a portion of those students does not even need those financial help at all. The one student I know in university with the most scholarships and grants comes from a well off family that paid for everything so she can focus all her time on studying and volunteering.

As for loans, unless the student manages to get a high paying job relatively soon after he/she graduates any benefits of the loan would end up disappearing into the black hole that is compound interest. It's why we hear so many horror stories of 50+ year old worker still paying off student loan.

IMO, loans should not have have interest higher than inflation and the interest calculation should only start after a student gets an income higher than a certain amount...at least enough that he/she can reduce the debt rather than accumulating or breaking even.

It's fortunate for me that my parents had RESP for me so the loan was paid in full immediately after I graduated.

# 2. is particularly repugnant to me. If someone is working to go to school they should be encouraged.