Critics, including student and faculty groups, are opposing Ontario's Bill 33, the 'Supporting Children and Students Act,' which would mandate universities to base admission decisions on a government-defined concept of 'merit.' They argue this infringes on university autonomy, could harm access for underrepresented groups, and allows for excessive political interference, potentially undermining campus services by allowing students to opt out of mandatory fees.
Ontario Bill 33 undermines university autonomy and access to education, critics say
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Critics, including student and faculty groups, are opposing Ontario's Bill 33, the 'Supporting Children and Students Act,' which would mandate universities to base admission decisions on a government-defined concept of 'merit.' They argue this infringes on university autonomy, could harm access for underrepresented groups, and allows for excessive political interference, potentially undermining campus services by allowing students to opt out of mandatory fees.
Trending- 1 2021: Government lost a court battle over a similar policy, the Student Choice Initiative
- 2 Last week (recent): Bill 33 introduced at Queen’s Park
- Undermining of university autonomy and long-held rights
- Potential narrowing of broadened pathways for marginalized or underrepresented students
- Potential loss of access to campus services (food banks, mental health services) if students opt out of fees
- Perceived unreasonable political interference in education
What: Criticism of Ontario's Bill 33, the 'Supporting Children and Students Act,' which proposes to force universities and colleges to assess applicants for admission based on a government-defined 'merit' and to publish the criteria, and also allows students to opt-out of mandatory student fees.
When: Bill 33 introduced at Queen’s Park last week (recent); government lost a court battle over a similar policy (Student Choice Initiative) in 2021.
Where: Ontario (Queen’s Park); Regina (University of Regina).
Why: The government believes students deserve transparency regarding evaluation criteria related to academic achievements and potential for success. Critics argue it undermines university autonomy, educational quality, and pathways for underrepresented groups, and is perceived as 'going after EDI' initiatives.
How: Through proposed legislation (Bill 33) in the Ontario legislature, which would grant the Ontario cabinet power to dictate admission criteria and regulate student fees.