Athan Kang (10) | STAFF REPORTER
Today, most high schoolers aspire to continue into post-secondary education. Each individual has their own reason –whether it is to make their parents proud, helping to achieve a prosperous future, or for one’s own particular interests in a certain field of study. However, everyone will imminently have to face the financial wall of tuition fees, which will regrettably continue to grow taller and hinder the potential of academic talent, exacerbating the wealth gap in Ontario.
In Ontario, post-secondary tuition alone sets students back around $5,000-$10,000 annually, and pairing that with various costs of living such as housing, food, and transportation will put students into a financial spiral all for the sake of a degree. Furthermore, due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, college and university students are left concerned about their lingering debts after graduation.
These rising costs of higher education have caused students to use various methods to pay off the debt. For instance, one person may try to cut costs on living expenses such as renting a cheaper home, rationing meals, and limiting the use of public transportation. Others may attempt to keep up with these prices by taking on several jobs or receiving financial aid from outside sources like family members.
Additionally, these increasing financial burdens will impact high school students of this generation as they think twice on seeking higher education. Some people may choose to not pursue post-secondary education due to the extreme requsitie financial weight. Individuals from lower-income families may be unable to afford the fees of post-secondary education. Moreover, these problems will likely lead to a decrease in enrollment for post-secondary institutions.
To conclude, post-secondary education no longer solely demands students for a good academic record and punctual class attendance. Undergraduates today now have to deal with a post-secondary financial crisis, limiting the accessibility of higher education.
