BY ARMANDO SHIMA
GUEST OPINION
“Are you happy with the increase of the grant from the government?”
The good news was announced this month by P.E.I. Finance Minister Heath MacDonald: a two-per cent increase to the university’s operating grant for 2018.
This increase, followed by another investment of $3.3 million – a so-called historic one - was the largest-ever single investment in non-repayable assistance for post-secondary students.
This pleased the student union and should be considered great news for all Islanders. More students from lower-income families will have access to these needs-based grants and help the province to improve its good grades in the income advantage for university/college graduates in Canada.
All those efforts need continuity to give tangible results, but continuity means more funds and recourses. Does the province have them or, at least, are they willing to provide them?
The solution can be found in the “problem” itself: Investing more in education for the benefit of the Island students in first place and the province economy in general.
According to a Conference Board of Canada report, “Every dollar spent on post-secondary education creates $1.36 for the Canadian economy.”
Even those numbers are encouraging. A bigger budget itself without a strong strategy and a large vision can’t be efficient. The province must direct the investments to make a more competitive UPEI and Holland College.
Offering a larger variety of courses, especially those in high demand at a national level, will give more opportunity and choice to the local students.
Combining the natural beauties of the Island with a competitive offer for students coming from outside the province can be one of the best solutions for the local economy.
Projecting the province to become a “huge student campus” can be one of the best long-term investments. Real estate, shops, restaurants and all local businesses will benefit.
The province will be lively and active throughout the whole year, not only in the summer.
Who better able than students to move the economy? And none more than our local students will benefit from all of this.
Armando Shima moved to P.E.I. three years ago from Italy and hopes to attend UPEI this fall.
