HALIFAX--As students and their parents flooded campuses earlier this week, hundreds of signatures were collected on a petition calling on the provincial government to reduce fees and increase government funding for post-secondary education.

"Students and their families are still feeling the sting of the recession and are wondering how they are going to finance their education," said Jake Byrne, Nova Scotia Representative for the Canadian Federation of Students. "While the Newfoundland and Labrador government has launched an aggressive plan to reduce student debt, Nova Scotia students are looking to their government to do the same."

The petition calls on the new government to immediately reduce fees for all students, increase per-student funding to the national average, and provide 50 per cent of every provincial student loan as a grant.

Despite the current tuition fee freeze, tuition and compulsory fees are the highest in the country averaging at almost $6,500. Nova Scotia is one of only two provinces that charges out-of-province students higher fees. High tuition fees are a barrier to accessing post-secondary education, especially for students from low- and middle- income families and marginalized communities.

"Students will continue to collect petition signatures and pressure the government to invest in Nova Scotia's youth by prioritizing post-secondary education," said Byrne.