Editorials

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Funding faith-based colleges

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 03/10/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The difficulty in debating public financial support for private universities and colleges in Manitoba lies in the murky history to that funding. Without public notice and, therefore, absent public debate, the Filmon government in 1999 put Bible colleges on the public payroll, keying initial funding to the number of students they enrolled.

A subsequent threat by the Doer government, early in its reign, to claw back funding to Bible colleges never materialized. It was politically easier to freeze the grants to the Providence, Booth and Steinbach colleges. That is not true of the Canadian Mennonite University, which has seen its block grant rise, in step with the rate increases to other universities, to $3.2 million.

There is valid reason to fund faith-based schools, including those that deliver college and university courses. They provide a valued service to the community, are supported by a piece of the tax-paying population, and they give parents and students choice in their education options. The primary and secondary schools are funded at a rate of 50 per cent of the per-student spending of public schools. The Filmon Tories, in the dying days of their reign, quietly applied the same formula for the initial grant to the faith-based colleges and universities.

That funding is under fire by the Canadian Association of University Teachers, which guards the academic freedom of instructors and professors. It argues that there is no room for private schools in the public education budget. It is most exercised over the fact that the hiring practices of the Canadian Mennonite University discriminate, insisting its staff be Christian, ascribing to the mission of the university which proclaims that scripture is the ultimate authority of truth. This is in stark contrast to the mandate of public universities, which encourages academic pursuit unhindered by dogma.

CMU contends that there is room for disagreement and intellectual exploration within its biblical strictures, but it has chosen -- as one should expect of a school that aims to produce disciples of Christ -- to apply a faith-based test to those academic pursuits. The government should not try to turn Bible colleges into public post-secondary institutions.

Given the economic and social value of faith-based schools, at all levels, the provincial government should assist in funding and the current grant falls in line with that principle. Oddly, Manitobans have never heard that principle enunciated by their government. Further, if it ascribes to this rule, the Selinger government should explain why three Bible colleges are not being given the same treatment as CMU.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 10, 2010 A14

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

WFP Hockey

Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
Editor's Bulletin

Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
Winnipeg Jets

All things NHL on our Jets landing page
Twitter

Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
News Cafe

Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
Facebook Fanpage

Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events