| Alberta | BC | Nova Scotia | Ontario | Québec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost for high-school | About $2,600 for 6 courses | No cost | No cost | No cost | No cost |
| Cost for college42 | $7,800 for two year program | $7,100 for two year program | $5,400 for two year program | $5,400 for two year program | Only nominal cost |
| Support for High-school |
May be eligible for a grant to cover tuition, books, expenses | Limited grants may cover books and transportation | No additional support | No additional support | No additional support from Ministry of Education, but possible support from programs in other Ministries |
| Support for College | May be eligible for a grant | Eligible for student loans and part-time study grant of $1,200 | Eligible for student loans and part-time study grant of $1,200 | Eligible for student loans and part-time study grant of $1,200 | Eligible for student loans and grants |
Our second scenario features Nadia, a 33-year-old woman who is currently receiving social assistance. She worked previously as a cleaner in a large firm and she would like to go to college for office administration. However, she left high-school when she was 16 and she is worried that her reading skills are too low. She has Grade 10 and a few Grade 11 courses.
Because Nadia also does not have a high-school diploma she will face many of the same difficulties as Nicholas. But, because she is on social assistance, Nadia will face an additional set of opportunities and constraints. In all five provinces Nadia would likely be able to remain on social assistance while she undertook literacy and basic skills upgrading and completed her highschool diploma. While this decision is usually left to the discretion of the individual case workers, most provinces encourage social assistance recipients to upgrade their skills at least to the level of a high-school diploma. In fact in Ontario, all Ontario Works applicants without a high-school diploma or equivalent are required to complete a literacy screening questionnaire and may be mandated to participate in literacy training.
Nadia’s costs will differ from Nicholas’s costs in two important
ways. First, because Nadia is
likely starting with less human capital, it will likely take her longer to obtain
a college diploma and longer to reap the labour market rewards associated with
obtaining a post-secondary credential. Second, because Nadia is on social assistance
she will benefit from income support while she is taking upgrading courses.
However, when she is ready to enter college, if she lives in Ontario or British
Columbia she will have to leave social assistance and apply for student loans.
In contrast, if she lives in Alberta, Nova Scotia or Québec, she may
be able to receive approval to remain on social assistance and pursue a post-secondary
credential. In Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Québec individuals who are on
social assistance may be eligible for grants that cover tuition, books and supplies.
It is important to note that in all three cases, the decision of whether individuals
on social assistance can participate in post-secondary education is left to
the discretion of social assistance caseworkers. Moreover, especially in Nova
Scotia, availability of these post-secondary ‘seats’ is limited
and demand outstrips supply. As long as Nadia is able to get a ‘seat’,
pursuing post-secondary education would be much easier for Nadia if she lives
in Alberta, Nova Scotia or Québec than it would be if she lives in either
British Columbia or Ontario.
42 Costs are for the full duration of the program and include tuition and ancillary fees, but not books or other material costs. Costs were determined by examining the 2005/06 fees at one college or university from the capital city of each province under consideration.