Article content

Post-secondary student leaders fear a controversial tool known as market modification will become the new normal after the Alberta government granted near blanket approval for 10 schools to hike tuition for a select number of programs by up to 56 per cent starting next fall.

“These tuition increases allow institutions to enhance quality and make these specific programs more responsive to student needs,” Don Scott, minister of innovation and advanced education, said in a statement. “Our goal is to have the best post-secondary education in the country.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Province grants approval for controversial tuition hikes, up to 56%, starting next fall Back to video

Over the summer, it was revealed the government had opened the door for Alberta universities and colleges to apply to the province for market modification tuition hikes, a tool that allows schools to increase tuition beyond the annual rate of inflation.

Students and opposition parties have criticized the government over its decision to reintroduce the use of market modifiers after pledging to limit tuition hikes to the consumer price index in 2010. Market modifiers allow schools to increase rates to be more in line with comparable schools.