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14 January 2004
uwRyan.com This website is meant to provide value to UW student by delivering information. Please provide feedback on what I write as well as give me suggestions of topics to cover. You can send e-mail to me to ryan[at]uwryan[dot]com.
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Federation of Students 
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OSAP needs fixing
Society will reap the greatest benefits from educating the most able students. Those students who will advance their skills and knowledge further given the same education will then contribute more by creating greater value in our society. Because part of Canadian universities' revenue comes from tuition, financial means become a factor in who is able to attend university. Student financial aid helps universities get closer to the ideal of accessibility being based on academic ability rather than financial ability. Therefore if we are concerned about the quality of academic work at universities and the benefits to society, we should be concerned about he effectiveness of student aid programs like the Ontario Student Assistance program. Recent studies indicate that the program is in need of reform. An joint student-administration working group at University of Toronto commissioned a study of the student cost-of-living in four cities to money provided by the program. The study is called Student Cost of Living Study. The study said, "Overall, current OSAP assessment and provision levels do not reflect actual costs." According to the study real current costs are greater than the costs assesed by the program and only in the situation of students living at home does the program provide money to cover its own assessment. The program's maximum of $9,350 for two terms has not changed since 1994. A study by Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, Student financial aid in Ontario — Fixing a system in need, points out other shortcomings of the program. OSAP only allows students to earn $2,300 in two terms. Any additional income will reduce funding from the program by the same amount. With expected parental contributions OUSA points out another difference between OSAP's expectations and reality. The OUSA study cites information from a Millennium Scholarship Foundation Study, Making Ends Meet - The 2001-2002 Student Financial Survey. Of the students surveyed 69 per cent report receivinf financial support from their parents and the mean support is $187 per month, which is $1,496 over eight months. OUSA compares this to the program's expectations, "OSAP expects that a family of four (two parents) with an income of $55,000 will contribute $1,712." These studies point to flaws in student assistance in this province, which is at best an outdated system. These problems must be addressed if we are to get the most out of the education of students in Ontario. |