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The

November 9th, 1984

Douglas College’s Autonomous Student Newspaper

Other Press

2nd class mailregistration pending Volume 17

Issue 6

’ Cut-backs are here to stay

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If you find yourself getting upset about education cut-backs, you had better get used to them. The Ministry of Education’s five year plan is in

by DONNA FORBES

effect and the picture is pretty grim. The proposed tuition increase for next- fall amounts to 10 per cent and that is only the beginning. Tuition increases are scheduled for the next five years in order to minimize the effects of the Socred government’s proposed educa- tion funding cut-backs under the five year plan.

In his speech on October 10th, Douglas College President, Bill Day stated that, ‘What this adds up to is a $1,500,000 estimated shortfall, if we carry on operations on precisely the same basis as we are at the present.’’

This shortfall is due largely to the Education Ministry’s proposed $997,000 cut-back for 1985-86. In his speech Day stated that ‘’This figure consists of a reduction of 5 per cent in the direct grant, another $120,000 in

elimination of grants for the college’s —

Community Education Program, and a further reduction of approximately $227,000 that is part of a 5 year scaling down of our budget.

The college has proposed a budget to eliminate this shortfall and will be implemented with approval from the College Board.

According to Day, student tuition fees for credit programs will increase by about $230,000 with approximately $160,000 of that sum coming from a general tuition fee rate increase of about 10 per cent. An_ estimated increase in winter enrollment will yield an additional $30,000 and a net of $50,000 will be yielded to the college as a result of a proposed summer school program.

This summer intersession is subject to approval by the Douglas-Kwantlen Faculty Association. Negotiations are taking place at present and also include discussions on the faculty’s contract. The college has offered the faculty a 2% per cent increase next year.

As part of the plan to cut expend- itures, the College Deans and Bursar have had their salaries frozen. The Student Society’s president Jesse Sedhu feels that this is not enough.

““Anyone making between $55,000 and $70,000 a year can afford, in my opinion, to take a 10-20 per cent cut in salary,’’ said Sedhu. ‘‘I’d rather see senior administration personnel take a wage cut. This would show that they have good intentions and that they realize that students are in a financial bind.’’

Jesse further stated that he would like to praise the faculty for not taking any drastic actions which would have affected students during negotiations with the college. According to Sedhu,

“This shows their concern for stu- dents. If they had gone on strike it would have affected the students in a negative way. | would like to thank

_them for their concern.”’

The implications of this budget

shortfall are: A 1) A tentative 10 per cent tuition

increase scheduled for next fall, on top of an 11.8 per cent increase this

semester. 2) A proposed processing fee for all application forms.

3) A larger student to teacher ratio,

which means less accessibility to teachers, and a lower quality of education due to increased class size.

This increased class size, coupled with only a 2% per cent proposed increase in teacher’s salaries will inevitably lead to teacher frustration. The teachers at Douglas College will begin to look elsewhere for positions. Further, the teachers that will be hired to fill various positions will be of a different calibre and will be willing to work for lower wages.

This has proven itself to be true all

across Canada where budget cut-backs have affected the teaching statts at colleges and universities.

The Douglas-Kwantlen Faculty As- sociation is suggesting that all con- cerned students write a letter of protest to their MLA’s and MP’s. Also, the Douglas College Student Society is presently circulating a petition to be sent to the provincial government in protest to their educa- tion policies. If you wish to sign this petition, please contact the Student Society in Room 2780.

Students at Douglas rally over education cut-backs.

photo by Brian Bisset

No restraint foreducationminister

Education Minister Jack Heinrich and Deputy Minister Jim Carter will see first hand the establishment of a forestry vocational training centre in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The school is of special interest to the minister and his deputy because the B.C. Ministry of Education has assisted in its establishment under contract with the Canadian Interna- tional Development Agency (CIDA).

‘‘In support of that contract we have purchased equipment in B.C. for use in the trades program,”’ said Heinrich. ‘In fact, while we are there we will be attending a ceremony inaugurating the

use of a portable sawmill built in New Westminster at a cost of $400,000.’

The mill, establishment of school programs and all travel are included in a $4.7 million contract paid for with CIDA, a federal agency. Of the funds, $3.2 million are in support of a seven-man B.C. crew working with the Indonesian Department of Manpower in establishing the training facility. Capital equipment amounts to $1.5 million, all of which has been pur- chased in B.C.

The minister and his deputy will also visit Jakarta, Sinapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

“We want to know what further ties can be made with the Pacific Rim countries from an educational stand- point, as well as hear their concerns about B.C. ‘visa’ schools,’’ said Heinrich.

“The Japanese have been success- ful in marketing their wares because they back up their sales with training and educational support,’’ said Heinrich. ‘‘l believe, if we are to be successful in the field, we must also support our marketing with similar programs, and that is an area we will be looking at.’’