Re: “Island university waives tuition for youth raised in B.C.’s care,” Aug. 15.
Child and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is stirring up a tempest in a teacup. If all the universities and colleges offered free tuition to children raised in care, it would only be a drop on the budgetary bucket. It would be good PR for for the child rep and the universities, but little else.
This is because of the content of foster-home caseloads. Unwanted babies are usually placed for adoption by consent. Young children taken because of abuse, and neglect usually come from homes where there is alcohol and drug addiction and mental illness.
Often fetal alcohol syndrome plays a part. Older children often come in after years of abuse and neglect and they have severe behaviour problems and high-risk life styles. They might not have the stability to achieve university entrance. Those who would qualify have usually been in stable long-term care since infancy, but they are a small minority.
What we should be doing is helping all poor children with university fees, when they gain a place. Not a vote-getter.
Ray Ferris
Victoria
