Manitoba government to lift tuition freeze

As many students feared, the Manitoba government announced Monday it will lift its tuition freeze, but there is some relief, however, as the freeze will remain in effect for one more year.

Advanced Education Minister Diane McGifford, who announced the move two days before her government introduces its 2008-09 budget, told a news conference that tuition fees will gradually start to climb in September 2009.

The freeze came into effect in the fall of 2000.

In the meantime, operating grants to universities and colleges will increase to seven per cent instead of five, which McGifford said equates to a six per cent increase in tuition and is more than what cash-starved universities had been seeking to improve their resources.

Since the freeze took effect, McGifford noted university enrolment has increased by 35 per cent.

McGifford also announced that Manitoba's student bursary program will be doubled to $16 million next year.

嗯。大学生活要赶紧结束了才好。
以后学费飞涨的时候，我们就只能兴叹了。