Author: Racheal Ifedayo Ajadi
For many years, Ontario post-secondary students have relied on OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) to fund their ambition and desire to pursue an education to grant them the knowledge to pursue stable jobs and careers. Unfortunately, for many students, a change in the structure of this program implemented by the government may likely result in interruptions to their future aspirations.
Earlier this year, Doug Ford, the Ontario Premier announced a change in the OSAP funding structure effectively taking place in Fall 2026, affecting students across the province. Usually, the funding was structured to heavily prioritize non-repayable grants with 85% of the provincial aid and a minimum of 15% repayable loans. The new premises of the funding now consists of 75% repayable loans and 25% non-repayable grants for many students. In addition, students attending private career colleges will receive 0% in Ontario-funded loans hence they receive 100% repayable loans. Finally, for every student, there will be a rise in tuition by 2%. While the provincial grants do not need to be repaid, the loans must be repaid with interest after graduation.
While these changes were received with more criticism than praise, the government justifies its actions, saying it was necessary, fiscally responsible and “sustainable” measure to ensure the long-term viability of post-secondary education. The government maintains its standpoint that the previous, grant-heavy model was not sustainable and that the new, loan-concentrated structure aligns with the need for better accountability, putting the burden on students rather than taxpayers.
For students who just applied to university or are currently studying, this will come as a disadvantage more than a benefit of placing burdens on taxpayers. This significantly reduces non-repayable grants from previous levels and increases debt for students. Usually, students would have to focus on their school without a heavy feeling of academic pressure, now students will have to pull the burden of academics, extracurriculars and heavy financial burden. In addition, this also ties in the futuristic thoughts and contemplation of finding a good job and a stable career to maintain this weight.
Students have however come out to voice their thoughts and complaints as they urge the Ford government to reverse course on OSAP cuts. One student describes the dramatic change as “a punishment for being poor”.
Although the premier insists that the most vulnerable student will still be taken care of, he argues public dollars must now come with tighter expectations, saying students now have to be held accountable for taking tax dollars and it’s no longer a “freebie”. From the government’s perspective, they further state that students should seek more “in-demand jobs like manufacturing, engineering and healthcare”. However, students in those fields say these changes affect a different outcome. Another student says that this government is fundamentally woefully or unintentionally out of touch with students in this province and with the states of their campuses right now as they have had to reconsider pursuing their masters degree after their final year of university.
The government proceeds to say that they would continue to sit with their minister to see if there’s anything that could be done to help the students when asked if there’s anything that could be done to reverse these changes. Many other leaders have come forth also opposing the structural changes in OSAP saying not everyone comes from the privilege the Premier came from, and he is not just the Premier of the wealthy and powerful, but of everyone in the Ontario province.
On one hand, the government sees this as an opportunity to cater to the needs of the country while on the hand, this is paraphrasely described as a torture for seeking education. Dare I ask, is this a way for the government to cater to the industrial needs of the country without considering the impact on students or could it be seen as more beneficial to universities and colleges in an attempt to provide an opportunity to students who can only afford it? Where are the students who are most directly affected in all of this? Should the interests of students matter in making decisions such as this?
References
https://aolcbrampton.com/blog/ontario-osap-cuts-2026-what-private-college-students-must-know-now/
