The fight for public education in Canada is part of a global effort to maintain education as a basic right for all. Around the world, governments are tabling “austerity” budgets containing massive cuts to post-secondary education and other public services.

In country after country, ordinary people are refusing to allow a crisis caused by the deregulation of international markets and corporate greed to threaten the public good. In many cases, students are the ones leading this struggle.

The Education is a Right campaign is the manifestation of students’ collective vision for a well-funded, high-quality, public post-secondary education system that builds a fair, and equitable society.

As part of the Education is a Right campaign students have been meeting with Members of Parliament and Senators, collecting petitions, organising provincial campaigns. Students also organised a national student day of action on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 and continue the fight for accessible education in Canada.

Affordable post-secondary education is a key issue for Canadians. In a recent poll conducted by Harris/Decima for the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Association of University Teachers, a majority of Canadians support reducing or freezing tuition fees.

A Majority of Canadians agree that:

• a university or college education is more important than ever to get by in today’s society;
• the federal government should attach conditions to dedicated transfer payments to the provinces;
• the government should invest more in post-secondary education, even if it means they have to pay slightly more in taxes;
• the government should invest in making college and university more affordable, even if it means a small increase in taxes; and
• a university or college education should be provided free for anyone who cannot afford it.