SOCIAL: PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES/ STUDENTS AND PRACTICUMS

 

SUBJECT: STUDENTS AND PRACTICUMS

PURPOSE:  This briefing note is a recommendation for changes in policy pertaining to practicum placement.

ISSUE:  There is not enough regulation pertaining to the placement of practicum students into the workplace

Background:

Practicum serves as an opportunity for students to be able to take what they have learned in school and apply it in an actual work setting.  According to Blooms Taxonomy, the “application of knowledge,” serves as an important aspect in the process critical thinking.  The application of knowledge allows students to gain insight on the events of any employment related matter.  Perhaps the fact that students are not compensated for their time serving practicums is as a result that they have not yet fully achieved the technical competency that are required for employment, therefore possible employers and educational institutions have concurred on the matter of not providing such pay.  However, the time spent on practicums is how students get the skills they need to be able to achieve employment.  This is a process that is necessary so that students can completely apply theorem that they have learned.  Regardless of whether they have full competency or not, the fact of the matter remains that these students at least possess some skills which they have learned in school therefore the government should consider the implementation of a compensation program.  Certain certificates and degrees require extensive practicums which can last up to fourteen days at a time even a month.  Many student are already in dire financial straits as they attempt to keep up with tuition and they activities of daily living.  The average expenses of certain goods and services are on a steady increase.  Students must account for various things in their monthly budget not limited to, tuition and books, living expense, food, transportation, entertainment, amongst others.  The average cost of living in Canada usually is between $600.00 to $800.00 a month.  This is a significant amount that students have to take in and at times there is no other financial support for them to ascertain. 

Considerations:

As mentioned above, students have many expenses in which comprise of their activities of daily living.  The average Canadian spends $17.00 on a meal at an inexpensive restaurant, $2.89 for a loaf of bread, $2.51 for milk, $95.00 for a monthly bus pass, $50.00 for fitness, $64.00 for a pair of jeans amongst others.  With all these expenses it becomes evident that students are experiencing tremendous pressure to keep up with these demands.  This stress can certainly affect the performance of students.  If stress passes a certain threshold, it could act as a way to implicate the quality of the reception of education.  Students experience additional stress added to that which the educational institutions already provide via due dates, essays, exams, etc.  Additional stress resulting from finance can result in distress.  This disorder can result in poor sleep, headaches, anger, lack of concentration, anxiety or panic, irritability etc.  Clearly these signs and symptoms are counter productive to the mandate of education delivery.  It is necessary that educational institutions collaborate with student union groups to ensure the psychological well being of students are prioritized.  The fact that students are doing practicum for no charge is clearly exploitation.  They are not even given a free meal but are forced to then spend what little funds they have to replenish themselves.  Campus certainly has mediated some of the effects of inequity however, what they have not considered is the fact of the inequity resulting from the current way practicums are administered via the educational institution and the employers.  The saying it is more expensive to be poor is true and relevant to this issue as students are in a financial straits.  These students frequently experience situations where they are to weigh the pros and cons.  This could aid them in their ability to make decisions however, if it is a persistent and constant issue wherein they must do this every several days, it could result in compounded stress which could lead to distress.  There are certain fees that students are experiencing of which include, declined transactions- insufficient funds, overdraft fees, purchasing vehicles with poor credit rating, parking tickets, extra surcharge on food as a result of not purchasing bulk, etc.  The mentioned situations are examples whereby students are forced into a state of mind wherein they attempt to look at their options.  Being financially strapped means potential distress.  Is it not the objective of the educational institutions to promote eustress?  Therefore, universities must consider a compensation program to those enrolled in program requiring practicum as an initiative to promote optimal learning.  Is the way that practicums are provided a form of exploitation?  Is it a means by which employers gain, “free,” labor?  Is it a way to reduce staff workload?  Well, yes and no.  Students are inclined to say they had a good experience at their place of practicum only because they require the reference.  Those who claim that their place of practicum was not beneficial are not given the references they need.  This then causes additional stress and results in the student experiencing a more difficult time finding employment.  All this then results in stress.  And this is a result of the exploitation of the educational institution and employers.  Furthermore, 56% of students are unable to pay tuition according to CNBC also, 7% of respondents had to unenroll to find full-time employment because of this.  CNBC makes it clear that the cost of college has risen 25% over the past 10 years.  In the USA the average cost of private school is $48,500 and public university is $21.370.00.  Now is it really appropriate that these educational institutes promote an exploitative system of education ala the way practicum is currently handled?

Options: 

Option 1:  Pay minimum wage and divide costs by three parties

Everybody claims they are on a budget.  From the government, to the educational institutes, to employers and students.  The delivery of education should be a give and take.  These students are the future of the country.  Why is it then, they continue to be treated as such that their at risk for exploitation.  We propose that students who must undergo practicum are paid minimum salary as according to the Employment Standards Act or any relevant legislation that is permissible to this matter.  Moreover, it is suggested that this payment come from three sources, the government, the educational institution and the employer.  For the government it is clear, this will aid societies progression.  For educational institutions and employers, a charity scheme must be prepared by the government to allow what is contributed as expenses for practicum to be tax deductible on the income tax.  It is evident that employer’s preference the, “free practicum,” but in this modern age, what needs to be considered is the well being of the student.  In the long run, this option will provide not only a more equitable workforce but one that is considerate of students.  This consideration would reduce the stress that is put on students which would then result in better performance at work.  From a sustainability perspective, this option is the most sustainable because it is concerned with producing a taskforce that is highly taken care of.  This option is however the least feasible as it would require the cooperation of the above named stakeholders. 

 

Option 2:  Status quo

This option is the most feasible however, students that need practicum are still going to experience the stress as they attempt to proliferate the taskforce.  This obviously has health impacts on these people.  From an equity standpoint, these people are being neglected as they are putting their time and effort into working these, “free” practicums.  Selecting this option reduces the overall equity of students as they continue with financial problems.  The government should be protecting its investments, the students.  By taking care of said, people would be more likely to preform better.  This will then result in a more sustainable workforce. 

Recommendation:

Option one is recommended.