Thousands of Quebec students protest against tuition hikes

[News_Editor]

Thousands of Quebec students protest against tuition hikes

2011-11-11 16:54:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

MONTREAL (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of Quebec students took to the streets of Montreal on Thursday to protest against tuition-fee hikes in the Canadian province, the Globe and Mail reported on its website on Friday.

As many as 200,000 college and university students voted in favor of boycotting classes to protest the hike. The students, who have garnered support from social activist organizations and unions, blocked access at Montreal institutions, preventing others who wanted to go to class from entering.

"This mobilization sends a clear message to the government that students will not accept higher tuition fees and will do everything in their power to overturn this decision," march organizers said in a statement.

Student groups have said the hikes amount to a declaration of war from the provincial government. Premier Jean Charest said he won't back down on the higher fees, which will increase by $325 per year from now until 2016.

Student groups say raising tuition fees will impact access to higher education. However, Charest says that, even with the increase, Quebec students will still pay the lowest fees in Canada.

Quebec's tuition fees have been frozen for most of the last 40 years. An association representing the heads of Quebec post-secondary institutions says the extra money is absolutely necessary as the province is falling behind the rest of Canada.

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