PRIVATIZATION: FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STUDENT

The fees charged by private industry for comparable office training
are notably higher at a ratio of 5 (or 6) to 1.

It is extremely doubtful that many students could afford or would be
willing to pay such fees, particularly in light of expected salary
return. There are two main alternatives available to the student
with limited funds: choose an alternative career from within

the College's offerings; or, pay industry only for the amount of
training affordable. The former could result in an inability on
the part of the College to meet an unexpected increase in demand.
The latter is particularly unfortunate in that the 'graduate'
lacking skills for advancement would probably become trapped in

a junior low-paying position.

It is important to appreciate that the students to be affected by
privatization of Douglas College programs are women, traditionally
the least able to finance their own education. Private training
schools will not provide bursaries and scholarships to deserving
students although the Canada Student Loan program is applicable

to a licenced school to a maximum well below the fees. It is
possible that CEIC would sponsor student training at some of the
private schools but the taxpayer will be paying appreciably more
for it. The public colleges are currently committing significant
resources to help students overcome a multitude of access problems;
the private colleges would not. It is expected that there could
be, over the long term, a considerable social impact of the
continuing unemployment of the student least able to afford private
enterprise; the mature single parent.