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.”
I think hes using it facetiously to avoid openly disparaging an actual degree. The problem is government gives you the debt whether the degree gets you a job or not, a private company who has a chance at loss will do some due diligence as to whether they will be able to pay the loan back or not.
I’d say its an interference in the market that leads to a larger number of foolish young people getting bad degrees, and maybe its still better than the alternative, but it shouldnt be openly encouraged. Its a stupid thing to do and leads to suffering when you have no means of paying the loan back.