Quebec student strike - some quick facts

From 1968 to 1990, tuition fees in Quebec were frozen at $500 a year. After a hike of about 150 per cent from 1990 to 1993, a PQ government introduced a new freeze in 1994. But that same government opened the door to a new increase in the name of deficit cutting in 1996. The increase faced a Quebec-wide student strike with mass street protests and gave up that idea. Fees have also increased by $100 a year over the past five years under the Charest government.

- Chantal Sundaram, Rabble.ca

Quebec student strike: The case for free education

A student sign pokes fun at Line Beauchamp, Québec Education Minister

From the English-language website of CLASSE


Free education: is it possible?

While students in Quebec are mobilizing to counter the drastic increase in tuition fees announced by the Charest government, it is important to continue the discussion on free education. This project, often attacked as utopian, is actually quite realistic and even relatively easy to apply, assuming of course a major change in our societal choices.

Window-shopping one’s education

Education is the basis of a society: it allows the transmission of knowledge and culture, and teaches critical thinking.
Increasingly, this fundamental right has become a commodity that students can buy and income has become a major factor deciding the scope of studies or their continuation. Those who can afford it are spoiled for choice while others are being forced to forgo some options to enter the labour market as soon as possible. A long university education is supposed to result in a prestigious degree, yet often this degree does not guarantee a job, especially not a job that would pay off the debts that have become necessary.