BC Post-Secondary Education Good... If You Can Get It

Vancouver, BC - A new Ipsos-Reid Special Feature on Post-Secondary Education in BC shows that most British Columbians have a high regard for the quality of post-secondary education available in their province today. More than eight-in-ten (84%) BC residents describe the quality of the province's post-secondary education as "good" (54% describe the quality as "moderately good" and 29% describe it as "very good.")

Claire McRobbie, Senior Research Manager at Ipsos-Reid says, "This confirms what students and professors already know. We have some top quality post-secondary institutions in this province and we see this positive perception for both universities and colleges."

While the quality is sound, BC residents are concerned about rising tuition costs and the accessibility of post-secondary education. McRobbie says, "It's a case of post-secondary education being good...if you can get it." When asked to name the issues that most need attention from post-secondary institutions, fully three quarters (75%) mention tuition and funding issues, and three-in-ten (28%) mention accessibility and space issues. Accessibility is a key concern for those with a university education. BC residents with an undergraduate degree are more likely to mention accessibility as an issue compared to their less educated counterparts. Fully four-in-ten (40%) university graduates cite "accessibility" as an issue deserving of attention compared to 25% of those with some post-secondary education and 20% with no post-secondary education.

Underscoring these tuition and funding concerns is the fact that eight-in-ten (79%) British Columbians believe that post-secondary education is becoming the domain of the middle and upper class. Almost half (48%) of British Columbians "strongly agree" that post-secondary education is becoming the domain of the middle and upper class. Another three-in-ten (31%) "somewhat agree."

Meanwhile, the provincial government appears to be on the right track in terms of addressing issues of accessibility. Seven-in-ten (71%) BC residents think the province's plan to add 25,000 new student spaces at BC post-secondary institutions will be effective in meeting the future demands for post-secondary education in BC. However, only 18% believe the initiative will be "very effective" versus 54% who believe it will only be "somewhat effective."

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted between March 1 and 7, 2004 among a representative cross-section of 800 British Columbian adults. These data are statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to 2001 Census data. With national sample of 800, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within 1773.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for population sub-groups.

For more information on this press release, please contact:

Claire McRobbie
Senior Research Manager, Ipsos-Reid
Vancouver, BC
604.257.3200 About Ipsos-Reid

Ipsos-Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader and the country's leading provider of public opinion research. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos-Reid employs more than 300 researcher professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in Canada, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and on-line panels. Ipsos-Reid's Canadian marketing research and public affairs practices are staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, offering the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada--including the Ipsos Trend Report, the leading source of public opinion in the country--all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Ipsos-Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, visit: www.ipsos-reid.com

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