College teachers, students criticize education reforms

College and university teachers and students have warned that reforms to higher education being considered by Queen’s Park are a threat to academic freedom.

In particular, the idea of creating an online university, broadening credit transfers and promoting more three-year degrees “are the kinds of decisions that must be made by universities and academics, not imposed on them by politicians and bureaucrats,” said Constance Adamson, president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations.

It was one of four groups that expressed concerns Wednesday about possible changes to post-secondary learning that could involve more year-round programs, easier transfers among institutions for first- and second-year students, and measuring what students have learned at the end of programs. “One foundation stone of postsecondary education is a recognition of who should be in charge, and it should be the experts — faculty and students, not just administrations,” said Ted Montgomery, chair of the bargaining team for the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, which represents community college faculty. “Online learning has its place, but it’s no substitute for learning in person and it can cost more because it can take more time for teachers to respond to each student.” Both the Canadian Federation of StudentsOntario and the Ontario University Workers’ Coordinating Committee of the Canadian Union of Public Employees criticized the provincial government for seeking input on reform that does not include a review of funding.