A bad message to students

There is no question that New York needs a skilled workforce. So why is the state putting up roadblocks?

Each year, thousands of high school graduates-many Hispanic- and adults continuing their education turn to the city and state’s public universities. In comparison to the staggering costs of private universities, they are far more accessible and affordable. This especially counts as single parents with child care costs are a significant part of the student body of the City University of New York (CUNY).

CUNY makes it possible for low-income New Yorkers to access a high education.

But that affordability was issued a blow yesterday when CUNY trustees approved a tuition increase. State aid has been cut by $300 million over the last four years, leaving trustees with little wiggle room.

With the latest hike-the second in a short span of time-, students – who did not take this quietly- will have to pay an additional $300 a year. That may sound minimal but when a student is squeezing each dollar for train fare, text books and their kids, it hurts.

But the other danger here is the steady march towards the unaffordability of public universities. The ongoing budget crisis makes a “perfect” case for increasing tuition and at the same time, driving away from the mission of public universities.

The resounding message is that workers must be educated and skilled to climb out of poverty and to compete in this information centric age. Then it makes no sense to erode a foothold specifically designed for them.

For the sake of our city’s future and the families workers need to support, our leaders and legislators would be better pressed to close, not widen the gap, between them and higher education.