It's an unprecedented time for everyone, and like many companies and organizations, universities don't have a sheet clear route to face a pandemic.
As the world adjusts to life with COVID-19, universities are following the advice of public health officials and doing their best to limit group meetings, meaning that across the country most of post-secondary courses will be conducted online.
Read more:
Coronavirus is changing the way the university works. What does the future hold for students?
Online learning is something that students have already stepped into. When the pandemic first came, universities rushed to allow students to finish the last few weeks of their semesters remotely.
"Much of the in-depth learning that could have been done was not fully developed," said student Blair Nicholson.
He will complete his fourth year at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, NS, in the fall, but says he doesn't expect to finish classes online.He has started a petition asking the university to reduce tuition fees.
"I don't think it's fair, I don't think [tuition fees are] is justified because the low quality of education is not something that should cost more."
From the east coast to the west, across the country Similar requests have appeared, all asking for the same thing. But many universities are actually going in the opposite direction and increasing enrollment.
Both Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, N.S., increase enrollment by three percent. One more province, the University of New Brunswick is increasing enrollment by 2 percent. In Quebec, McGill University remains on schedule with its 3.1 percent increase and University of Winnipeg students will pay an average 3.75 percent more for the 2020-2021 school year. New students at the University of Calgary will be 7% more than their colleagues last year, while returning students will see a 5% increase.
Regardless of the amount of the increase, students agree: online learning should cost less than classroom education, no more.
Be First to Comment