KPU students join national “Fight the Fees” protest

🔊 Listen to Post

Students protested and campaigned for the “Fight the Fees” protest at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Surrey campus on Nov. 8. The event was held by the Kwantlen Student Association, a member of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). 

“Fight the Fees” advocates for free and accessible education, non-repayable grants, and an equal opportunity to education because “post-secondary education is under attack,” according to CFS’ national poster. 

Protests were held by Canadian student unions from coast to coast on Nov. 8, as CFS’ “National Student Day of Action.” 

KSA Vice President of External Affairs Jasmine Kaur Kochhar spearheaded the event. Kochhar, along with other volunteers, collected signatures at the protest from other students who believed in the cause. 

“Fees are something which has been in discussion over a really long time [with KPU],” Kochhar says.  

“Fight the Fees” advocates for international and domestic students’ issues, she says, adding that financial challenges are elevated for many international students, especially with the maximum 20-hour work week restriction coming back into effect on Dec. 31. 

“[International students] are paying twice the amount [of tuition fees], so that could be reduced, if we could have more mental health facilities, [and] the health insurance could come down,” Kochhar says. 

The health insurance plan currently available at KPU for international students who don’t have access to B.C.’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the Temporary Medical Insurance Plan through guard.me. It costs $201.30 per term, until international students receive MSP and submitted a request to opt-out. 

The mandatory health insurance for all KPU students is the KSA’s Health & Dental Plan, unless students are covered by a different medical plan. It costs $200.85 per year, $87.55 for extended health and $113.30 for dental. International students pay for this plan in addition to the Temporary Medical Insurance Plan. 

Kochhar prioritized mental health in her election campaign as it impacts both domestic and international students. She says international students’ experience mental health issues mainly due to being in debt which results in them being unable to pay their tuition fees or find a place to live. 

International students pay between $15,100 to $24,367 per semester for tuition fees and other mandatory student fees, according to KPU’s website. They are also required to be full-time students which accounts to taking a minimum of three courses each semester.

For the 2022-23 school year, KPU reported $127 million in revenue from international students’ fees, and $36 million from domestic students’ fees. 

According to KPU’s 2022 student satisfaction survey, 86 per cent of international students and 73 per cent of domestic students work a paid job, while attending KPU. 

Minimum wage in B.C. increased to $16.75 an hour on June 1. If international students worked 40 hours per week at a minimum wage job on top of their minimum three course load, they would make approximately $34,840 a year before tax, which doesn’t cover the cost of tuition, let alone other expenses. 

For the 2022-2023 school year, domestic students in Canada paid an average of $6,834 in tuition for the year, according to Statistics Canada. Tuition fees for domestic students are not currently disclosed by KPU, but the B.C. government has a tuition cap of two per cent for courses and mandatory fees. 

However, with the cost of living also on the rise, it has become a topic of discussion for all students. 

“I think that’s [KPU’s] responsibility to tell us, ‘We’re using your money for this purpose, and that’s what we’re asking for so much,” says Harmannat Pabla, a volunteer at the protest. 

Pabla also says it’s important for domestic students to fight the fees. 

“Compared to international students, our fees are much lower, but they’re still drastically high,” Pabla says. “I’m paying … $400 plus for one course, so it’s a lot of money. … If it’s the same information [we’re learning], then why do certain universities ask for much more than other universities?” 

Eric Dominguez, a domestic student, signed the petition advocating for free and accessible education. 

“I signed the position mostly because in my time at KPU, I don’t see why the school can justify fees like what they are charging, especially when you look at [other] schools in the area … and I see what their fees look like and I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s not that far from the fees that we have KPU,’” Dominguez says. 

International students at the University of British Columbia pay approximately $42,000 to $58,000 per year in tuition fees. Douglas College estimates international students pay approximately $19,102.50 in tuition fees, per year.

“Not to knock the school, … but I just don’t feel like [the education] . . . is up there with about the same value as a school like UBC,” he says. “I feel like the quality of education, and the schools are so different.”

Dominguez also says governments should be providing more funding to allow more people to access post-secondary education. 

“We create the new professors of the world,” he says. “The people who are in university, not just the people in university, but the people who are here, they’re striving to become something.”

Instructors have also noticed how financial constraints impact students in the classroom. 

KPU journalism instructor Eve Edmonds says she’s been noticing students coming to class half asleep because they’re working so many shifts. 

“I can’t really blame them. Not only are tuition fees really high, so is the cost of living,” Edmonds says. “Rent is through the roof.”

According to a study by Westland Insurance, B.C. is the most expensive province in Canada to live in. KPU’s website estimates it costs $8,000 per semester to cover housing, utilities, groceries, and other personal expenses. B.C. has the highest average rental cost in Canada at $2,656 per month.

Food prices have also been on the rise. In December 2022, a report by Dalhousie University found food prices in Canada were set to increase up to seven per cent this year. B.C.’s food prices continue to be higher than the national average for many pantry staples, according to Statistics Canada. In September 2023, the national average for a dozen eggs was $4.48, while in B.C., the same dozen retailed for an average $5.40. 

“[Students] are trying to grab as many hours as they can, [and] what suffers of course is going to be their academics,” Edmonds says. “While it’s frustrating and their priorities should be on their school work, … I also realize that there are those financial challenges.”

To learn more about the “Fight the Fees” national protest, visit www.cfs-fcee.ca/fight-the-fees.