Ford tying post-secondary funding to political directives is wrong: NDP

QUEEN'S PARK — NDP Colleges and Universities critic Chris Glover released the following statement in response to the Ford government's decision to tie a whopping 60 per cent of post-secondary funding to specific metrics determined by the Ford government:

"Tying 60 per cent of all funding for colleges and universities to outcomes and political directives set by the Doug Ford government is wrong. It destabilizes institutions and makes it impossible for them to budget for improvements.

It’s a way for politicians to control what and how universities teach, and dramatically slash the funding of schools that resist Ford’s directives.

Students will suffer. Evidence shows performance-based funding negatively impacts students from equity-seeking groups because institutions are forced to prioritize meeting performance statistics.
Quality of education will suffer. Ontario universities’ reputation on the world stage will be damaged.

In the middle of a global pandemic, as post-secondary students face a dismal job market, Doug Ford and Minister Ross Romano are delivering a cruel blow to young people and struggling institutions."