MONTREAL – A significant strike involving over 7,000 engineering students at Polytechnique Montreal is set to take place next week in response to the university's decision to phase out financial grants designed to alleviate educational costs. These grants, which have been in place since 2014, were specifically aimed at covering expenses related to mandatory internships for students.
The university administration has announced that the grants will be gradually eliminated over the next few years, with a complete phase-out expected by the winter semester of 2027. This decision has sparked considerable backlash among the student body, leading to a vote where over 700 students expressed their support for a strike on September 25 and 26.
According to Gabriel Comby, the president of the student union, the financial implications of this decision are significant. Local students will face an increase of approximately $572 in fees once the grants are fully removed. For students coming from outside Quebec, the financial burden will be even higher, with an anticipated rise in fees totaling around $1,856.
Comby criticized the university administration, asserting that it is unfair for the school to shift its financial challenges onto the students. Many students at Polytechnique already depend on financial aid to manage their educational costs, making the phase-out of these grants particularly burdensome.
This situation highlights ongoing tensions between educational institutions and student bodies regarding financial policies and the accessibility of education. The impending strike serves as a form of protest against what the student union views as misguided prioritization of institutional finances over student welfare.
The student union's organized protests will raise awareness of the financial challenges faced by students and aim to pressure the administration to reconsider its decision to eliminate the grants. As the date of the strike approaches, it remains to be seen how the university will respond to the students' grievances and whether further discussions will take place to address these vital concerns.
