Student associations and Quebec governement reach tentative deal

It’s the beginning of the end for the Quebec tuition fight.

Leaders of Quebec student associations and education minister Line Beauchamp have come to a tentative agreement after round-the-clock closed-door negotiations.

According to the CBC, under the new deal students will get a temporary tuition freeze for the fall semester.

A committee will look into the financial management of universities with a report due in December.

The government will go ahead with its planned tuition hike over seven years but students will see fees lower in other places. This includes a committee that will look for savings in university budgets with the aim to reduce non-tuition fees.

The announcement follows violent protests in Victoriaville that saw 106 arrests with 3 officers injured.

Six protesters also ended up in hospital including a 21 year-old who lost an eye and suffered life-threating head wounds.

Students will have a chance to vote on the deal in the next few days.

Flickr photo: Robin Dumont