Manitoba: Public Student Debt

Public student debt: Across the country, including in Manitoba, student debt levels are rising. Public student debt now sits at more than $15 billion owed to the federal government and an additional $73 million owed to the provincial government; the average total loans for students in Manitoba is more than $25,000. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The simplest solution would be to have fully funded public education with no tuition fees. Until that happens, however, we rely on student financial aid to make sure that those who don't have the money can still go to school. It's no surprise that students today are feeling the pinch. The cost of tuition and ancillary fees, costs of living, and textbooks increase each year but we aren't seeing any substantial increases in the quality of higher education. We also aren't seeing increased wages, leaving a growing gap in how we can pay for school. Students are taking longer to complete degrees, working more to cover higher costs, relying more heavily on loans to pay for school, and putting off major life decisions such as starting a business or having children. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.