MONTREAL – The Quebec government has quietly officialized measures it says will broaden access to higher education in
 the province.
   
The measures were first announced during the spring amid a dramatic showdown with university and college students protesting tuition hikes.
   
Student associations criticized the proposals at the time, saying they did little to address their concerns about rising tuition fees.
   
But the government has pushed ahead with its plans to draw the hike out over seven years, instead of five, and to increase the amounts dedicated to loans and bursaries.
   
Education Minister Michelle Courchesne said in a news release today the Liberal cabinet formally adopted the measures on Wednesday.
   
That allows them to be in place by the time university students return to class in September.