Ontario is imposing a moratorium on new public-private college partnerships, amid a slew of other changes aimed at protecting students and improving "the integrity of Ontario's post-secondary education."Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop announced a moratorium on new public-private college partnerships on Friday, along with a slew of other changes in the education sector.
The other changes include plans to start a review of programs at post-secondary schools that "have a sizeable amount of international students." The province said it will also work with other partners in the sector and the federal government to "explore ways to further crack down on bad-actor recruiters who take advantage of international students and make dubious claims of employment and citizenship.""We must find more ways to work together to combat gross recruitment practices while protecting our ability to attract the world's best and brightest to study here in Ontario," said Dunlop.
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the requirement that colleges and universities have housing options available for incoming students without a funding commitment "is little more than smoke and mirrors." He said the government should increase funding and commit dedicated resources to address the issue.
However, he said he's uncomfortable with the way colleges are being portrayed, he said. He points to colleges training about 18,000 personal support workers in Ontario and New Brunswick during the COVID-19 pandemic.