Canada’s recent decision to cut international student permits by 35 per cent nationwide and 50 per cent in Ontario should be a wake-up call.
We need to address the deeper issue of years of underfunding in our education system.
An Ontario government report showed that its colleges and universities have become reliant on international students paying higher tuition fees to subsidize domestic students due to years of government underfunding.
The financial burden of education has largely been shifted to the shoulders of international students from the government.
We cannot keep placing the financial burden on international students as it is unsustainable and unjust.
This over-reliance on international students has allowed the government to paper over the fact that it is not providing adequate funding levels for post-secondary education.
The same report found that instead of increasing funding for universities, funding has declined to $8,350 in 2021 from $8,514 in 2008.
There was a slight increase for colleges, to $7,365 in 2021 from $6,615 in 2008.
However, if both numbers are adjusted to match inflation, this is significantly less funding per student than the 2008 level for both universities and colleges, the report stated.
The immediate result of the reduction in student permits will be a significant drop in funding, which will impact the quality of education in this country.
While that will be a shock in the short term, this does not have to be a step backward.
Indeed, it should be the first step towards a better and more sustainable education system that is not reliant on exploiting international students.
Government action should fill the funding gap.
The Canadian government needs to provide the necessary funding to our post-secondary institutions.
This will ensure that Canadian educational institutions can maintain their role as places of learning and opportunity, not exploitation.
The current situation will be challenging, but fortunately, it is temporary and allows the Canadian government to re-evaluate the priorities of our education and immigration systems.
These priorities should include a commitment to quality education and adequate funding by the government.
More investment in schools can reduce the pressure on international students and create a well-funded, sustainable, and productive education system.
Educational institutions in Canada need concrete action, and they need it now.
The decision to decrease international student permits may be seen as a move away from Canada’s open-door reputation, but it is a necessary step to build a better educational system that works for the future.
This isn’t just about maintaining our reputation as a welcoming nation for students worldwide.
It is an opportunity to address the injustices and inefficiencies of our immigration and education systems and ensure Canada remains the welcoming destination it is widely known to be.
This moment can be used to make the education system work better for everyone, including future generations of Canadian and international students.