A group of students chanted, sang and played drums outside the Liberal Party's annual fundraising dinner in Halifax Monday night, asking the provincial government to lower tuitions.

They were outside the World Trade and Convention Centre, while the premier's $300 per ticket fundraiser was underway.

About three dozen students showed up despite the rain, including Nova Scotia's Canadian Federation of Students chair Michaela Sam.

"While in opposition, the Liberal government made all sorts of promises to students, whether that meant increased funding, increased student assistance, but students today are seeing record levels of student debt,” she said.

“Tuition here in Nova Scotia is the third highest in this country and the level of youth unemployment is well above the national average so students are coming out and asking for more.”

The protesters want the province to restore funding to post-secondary institutions and find ways to reduce student debt.

“All we really need to do is see our students as an investment as opposed to a cost,” said Sam.

Meanwhile the province says it's doing its part to help students

It says it eliminated provincial student loan interests while supporting bursaries and capping debt.

The government says its also investing in programs that help reduce the cost of education and help students pay off debt.