Troubled by Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (MUN) announcement of a hiring freeze and other budgeting measures, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) wrote Premier Andrew Furey urging government to increase funding to the university.
Dinn says that MUN was a main promise of Confederation so that the people of our province would have accessible education and benefit from the opportunity. Now, during the 75th Anniversary, it is clear government’s neglect in investing in the University is impacting the future of our province.
“Your government’s decision to lift the tuition freeze from Memorial University, has created incredible hardship for students and is impacting the University operations. To watch the centrepiece, indeed the anchor, of our education system and our culture crumble into disarray during the 75th Anniversary of Confederation is alarming.
“I ask that your government restore funding to Memorial University so it can maintain the tuition freeze, increase class sizes and course offerings, deal with the $481 million in deferred maintenance and give paid work terms for students,” Dinn wrote.
The NL NDP has been steadfast in their support for investing in post-secondary students and their education, highlighting the need for paid work terms for all fields, and a promise to reintroduce the tuition freeze.
“Memorial University graduates are our doctors, our teachers, our nurses, our future. It is an incubator for innovation and an economic driver for our province. Memorial University was once a crowning achievement of our province. Please do not squander its potential.”