Premier Doug Ford had choice words for students expressing concerns over recent cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) Tuesday, telling them to “not pick basket-weaving courses” and to invest in education that gives people in-demand jobs.

Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park, Ford said he received “thousands of calls” from students over the long weekend, who expressed concerns about the province cutting the amount of grant money students can receive through OSAP.

“I mentioned to the students, you have to invest in your future, into in-demand jobs,” he said.

“You’re picking basket-weaving courses, and there’s not too many baskets being sold out there.”

  • Washedupcynic@lemmy.caEnglish
    4·
    10 days ago

    As a late gen x/early millenial, I was told to get a college degree in STEM. I did that, and got an MS and PhD. I finished my doctorate in 2008 just in time for the housing market to crash and forced austerity via republican wars and george bush. I spent 3 years in a postdoctoral fellowship, effectively making $10 hourly based on hours I worked VS salary. After my fellowship, in 2011, I could NOT find a job in my field, because there were no jobs. I gave up and leveraged my education into a different field.

    I ended up working for the state, in a position that has nothing to do with my education, and only requires a high school diploma. I make $30 an hour now. 13 years after I finished my fellowship and gave up, I started having STEM companies cold calling me to offer me positions because they saved my resume. Best part was being offered $30 hourly, which is what I already make in a position that doesn’t require post secondary education. Telling them not to bother me unless they were prepared to offer me $60 hourly felt fucking amazing.

    The point to my rambling is that whatever is “in demand” could change at a moments notice for any reason. If you’re going to spend 4-10 years of your life learning a particular skill set in a particular field of study, you should at least enjoy yourself and feel enthusiastic about what you are studying.

    I’m not a Canadian, but if I came across Doug Ford slowly dying on the street, I’d step the fuck over his body and keep walking.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
      1·
      10 days ago

      Exactly, and the in demand job of today is often the job with high competition and less work when you’re done training for it because a lot of people want an in demand career

    • uhmbah@lemmy.ca
      1·
      10 days ago

      but if I came across Doug Ford slowly dying on the street, I’d step the fuck over his body and keep walking.

      +1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1