How is child support calculated when the child only remains a child because of his post-secondary education?

In Johnson v. Johnson, [1998] B.C.J. No. 1080 (S.C.), Pitfield J. discussed the court’s discretion under s. 3(2) of the Guidelines to order payment of support for an adult child in the table amount, or where appropriate, in some other amount, having regard to the condition, means, needs and other circumstances of the child, and the financial ability of each spouse to contribute to the support of the child. At para. 12, Pitfield J concluded that it was not appropriate to determine child support in the table amount where the student only remained a child because of his pursuit of post-secondary education, and lived at home or away from home depending upon the time of year, convenience, affordability and need. Rather, the costs of post-secondary education, including tuition and institutional expenses, room and board or equivalent expenses, books, travel and miscellaneous expenses reasonably attributable to the pursuit of that education, were to be shared by the parents in proportion to their incomes, after taking into account the child’s ability to contribute.