A two-year review into post-secondary education in Newfoundland and Labrador recommends the elimination of the tuition freeze at Memorial University, which has some of the lowest fees in the country.

The report makes 83 recommendations covering the College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University on topics such as expenditures, revenue, and programs and services.

It recommends a tuition model which reflects the true costs of educating students and respects the priorities of the university and the province—another way of saying increase tuition.

On the expenditure side, the committee would like to see more money go into green technology and information technology, a review of the number and location of academic programs and services, greater transparency in the budgeting process, a salary and benefits study for all employee categories not recently studied, and the transfer of all nursing-related post-secondary education programming from the regional health authorities to a post-secondary institution.

The committee also recommends that MUN and CNA explore options to increase the number of child care spaces on campus.

Some Shortfalls in Report, says Minister

Meanwhile, Education Minister Tom Osborne says the report left much to be desired in his eyes, though he says there are some “solid” recommendations in the report.

One of the shortfalls of the report revolves around what he deems one of the “cornerstones” of the terms of reference: finding more efficient ways of delivering education in the future.

He says efficiencies weren’t delivered in the report. In fact, the recommendations are asking government to spend more money, which Osborne states he isn’t pleased with.

However, while there are some points he wasn’t satisfied with, he contends that the report contains a number of good recommendations as well.

CFS says Students ‘Furious’ With Recommendations

The Canadian Federation of Students is expressing disappointment with the Post Secondary Education review.

Students are “furious, but not shocked” to see recommendations to raise tuition.

It says students have been hard hit through the pandemic, with many losing, or having difficulty finding employment.

The report, it says, shows that government has “no desire to provide hope or options to young people wanting to call this province home.”