Improve education by giving money to students,
suggests think tank
DOSE
Thu 23 Feb 2006

Page: 09
Section: News
Byline: Dave McGinn
Column:
Dateline:

Source: Dose
Series:

A major overhaul of post-secondary education funding that
would send money directly to students rather than to institutions wouldallow
schools to better meet their goals, says a Canadian study.

Provincial funding of post-secondary institutions doesn't give the schools
incentive to reach goals of accessibility, equality and responsiveness to labour
market needs," said YvanGuillemette, a policy analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute.

In Re-examining Provincial Postsecondary Funding Mechanisms in Canada, a
study released yesterday, the institute suggests a scheme in which
post-secondary institutions would continue receiving a basic amount of direct
funding,but the rest of the money allocated by provincesto pay for colleges and
universities would go directly to students, according to a needs-based
assessment.

"You would see the whole dynamic change from one in which university
officials are always trying to lobby the government for more grants to one in
which the funding they get was depending on them attracting students," said
Guillemette.

The study comes as Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec Premier Jean
Charest prepare to convene a national summit in Ottawa on post-secondary
education.

The Ontario ministry of training, colleges and universities said it is aware
of the report but will have to review its content before commenting.

Edition: Final
Story Type: News
Note:

Length: 201 words
Company: