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This week, many high school and university students across the GTA will take action by marching, walking out or rallying in protest of the Ford government’s recently-announced reductions to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP.)
After hearing about the OSAP cuts, Jannah Shah, a grade 12 student at Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institution in Oshawa, said she was outraged. So she began planning a walkout at her school to take action.
Word spread. On Monday, students from over 20 schools across the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board will be walking out in protest, Shah said.
“Us, as students, we want to show that we have a voice,” she told CBC News.
The changes to OSAP, first announced in February, will go into effect for the next school year. The changes limit the maximum amount of funding in the form of grants at 25 per cent, down from the current 85 per cent maximum. Meaning eligible students will have to take on more debt to pay for their schooling.
Facing decisions about their future, Shah said many students at her school are worried about the OSAP cuts. She said many are having to reconsider the possibility of pursuing higher education.
Grace Cowan, a grade 11 student leading the walkout at O’Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institution, said the walkout quickly gained traction among students as they are directly affected by the cuts or their friends will be affected.
“This walkout gave them hope that they could be a part of the change that they need,” she said.
Rally to be held at Queen’s Park Wednesday
Later this week, on Wednesday, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFSO) is also organizing a rally to be held outside Queen’s Park at 12:30 p.m., according to a social media post by the organization.
The changes to OSAP and allowing schools to increase tuition by two per cent each year makes education less affordable and does not serve current or future students, Cyrielle Ngeleka, chairperson of the CFSO, said in a news release following the announcement.
“In the midst of a youth unemployment crisis, and an increasingly precarious job market – this detrimental decision will mean more students graduating with increased student debt, jeopardizing students’ financial future,” the release states.
Student groups from several postsecondary institutions, including the Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU), the Student Association of George Brown College (SAGBC) and the York Federation of Students (YSF) have promoted the event on their platforms as well.
“OSAP is changing, and students deserve to be heard,” the SAGBC wrote in the caption of a social media post about the rally. “These updates could impact grants, loans, and access to education across Ontario.”
NDP Leader Marit Stiles recently called on Ford to “reverse course” on the changes. With an uncertain job market and existing affordability struggles, she called the premier “out of touch” for asking students to take on more debt to pay for their education.
Despite the pushback from students, Doug Ford has stood by his decision to cut OSAP grants and has encouraged students to pursue “in-demand” fields like STEM and healthcare.