Lani Miko was getting excited because she only had 37 days left before becoming an H.V.A.C Technician, but that optimism has turned to dread, after Ontario’s student loan program, ceased payments to students of private career colleges, earlier this month. “I’m worried the school is going to close, and worried if I’m going to be able to finish my hours,” says the Hensall native. Miko isn’t alone. Melissa Hilton actually quit her private college program, when Ontario Student Assistance Program (O.S.A.P.)funding was frozen, on October 6th. “I can’t continue school, because there’s no guarantee that the next payment is going to come through in January,” says Hilton, who lives in Exeter. Ontario froze O.S.A.P funding for students at all 242 private colleges operating in the province, after irregularities in student assistance funding was found at six career colleges. Eight more are now under investigation. “Why are you penalizing all students at other schools that have followed the rules, follow the regulations? They get audited regularly, so you can see who are legitimate students, and who are not,” says Miko. The province says they’re working with banks to offer private career college students, suddenly without O.S.A.P, loans. “So, your solution is, you took a loan out to go to school, we’re withholding that. But, you need to apply for another loan, which then puts you in even more debt when you’re done,” she says. The Ministry of Colleges and Universities says they’re working on a new validation process for O.S.A.P approvals for Ontario’s private career colleges, but that won’t likely be ready until the new year, leaving students like Miko and Hilton, with their dreams and lives, on hold. “That’s the thing. Do you work with an employer and tell them that you might be gone in six months? It’s just a bunch of questions, that you can’t answer,” says Hilton. “I’m a single mom. I have bills to pay. I have to run the household. And now I’m like, I already have a second job, but I’m on leave from that, so I could go to trade school. So, what do I do?” questions a frustrated Miko. The Ministry of Colleges and Universities says, “While the Ministry’s initial investigation focused on a few schools, with the Ministry since taking action not to renew O.S.A.P at six campuses, in recent weeks we’ve seen signs of systemic issues. At this time we do not have assurances from the audit team that the issues are not more widespread. That is why we have take a system-wide approach, and paused O.S.A.P funding while the investigations continue,” says Ianca Giacaboni, Press Secretary for Minister Nolan Quinn, from the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security.
