Students have been in the news a lot this past week in Quebec – and not for academic achievement.

Students across the province are striking to protest the government’s proposed increases to university tuition. Tuition will increase by $325 a year starting in 2012.

The strike is organized by the Coalition large de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (CLASSE) which represents more than 65,000 students from the province’s CEGEPs and universities. Last week, 11,000 students from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and l’Université Laval began the unlimited strike and today, the number going on strike was set to increase to more than 30,000 (a list of organizations involved can be found here).

The Concordia MobSquad explains why an unlimited general student strike was chosen (PDF):

“A student strike is a voluntary and collective cessation of activities (such as going to classes, doing school work) in order to unite and put pressure on the government to back off from the hikes. 'Open-ended' (also referred to as unlimited) points to a confrontational stance with the government. It does not mean that the strike is limitless, but that its length is undetermined in advance. This means that the strike goes on until demands are met or until students decide to stop the strike. As for the word 'general,' it means that the strike involves a large movement that includes a significant number of student unions in Quebec, giving it strength and credibility.”

Education Minister Line Beauchamp said the strikes will not have an effect on the government. She said the strike would only cause problems for the students who will miss classes.

That wasn’t the only response from the government. The province is taking precautions, ordering CEGEP and university students to continue to teach despite the strike. The office of the Deputy Minister of Education sent letters to remind teachers of their duties.

This is not the first time students have taken action against the proposed increases. On Nov. 10 last year, a march was held in Montreal in which thousands of students took part.

The red square representing the student strike was mounted on the Mont Royal cross early this morning. It has since been taken down. Photo: Dawson Student Union via Facebook (http://opnfil.es/wCdctS)