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FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government "missed the mark" in its reforms of the post-secondary education system, meaning local university and college students will continue to drown in debt if more support is not provided, alleged the province's Student Alliance on Thursday.

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STEPHEN MACGILLIVRAY/canadaeast news service

Jon O'Kane of the University of New Brunswick Student Union speaks to the media at a rally behind the Student Union Building on Thursday decrying student debt.

In a display aimed to show disappointment with the Liberals' recent post-secondary changes, students held demonstrations at campuses across the province and called for a $6,000 annual cap on debt for each student.

At a news conference in Fredericton, Student Alliance president Duncan Gallant said the government's approach to student aid does nothing to curb the province's student debt levels.

According to Gallant, the province must ensure university and colleges are more accessible and affordable - so that students "don't have to mortgage their futures."

If left unfixed, he said, debt levels will continue to force graduates to seek higher-paying jobs elsewhere in Canada.

"Affordability of post-secondary education is a major concern that needs to be addressed in New Brunswick," he said, noting the province as the highest student debt load in the country.

"Post-secondary education should not be a death sentence for life."

So, the Alliance, which represents over 16,500 students at six university campuses and one community college campus, wants to cap - at $6,000 - the amount of debt a student can amass each year. Expenses beyond that figure would be covered by government grants.

Under the Alliance's plan, a student graduating with a four-year degree would have a maximum debt of $24,000 - a figure Gallant said is close to the national average.

The current average student debt in New Brunswick is $34,000.

Gallant, a fourth-year political science student at St. Thomas University, also called for more grants targeted at aboriginals and rural and low-income students.

As well, the group would like to see loan payments contingent on a graduate's income level, so that grads don't have to put more than 20 per cent of their paycheque into debt repayment.

The Liberal government released it long-delayed post-secondary reforms back in June.

The government's focus on student finances was mainly contained to a number of previously announced programs, scholarships and rebates.

Gallant said the current aid programs are "misguided and inefficient." If redirected, he said, the current funding could easily cover the Alliance's proposals.

However, Gallant could not attach an exact cost to the Alliance's ideas.

Post-secondary Education Minister Donald Arseneault agreed that tuition and debt levels are serious issues, but wouldn't say if the government would alter its current course.

Still, he promised to meet with student leaders to hear their concerns.

Thursday's events took place on Arseneault's second day on the job.

Arseneault, who replaced Ed Doherty on Wednesday, said his first move as minister was to call the province's four university student union presidents.

"They were the first ones I called - not the university presidents," said the former natural resources minister, who pledged to meet with those student leaders before the holiday break. "My first priority is the students."