MCCALL REPORT BUILDS ON GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Released on April 11, 2007

Making post-secondary education accessible and affordable to a wider range of Saskatchewan people is the objective of a report presented to Premier Lorne Calvert today.
     
“Ours is a province with abundant career opportunities,” Calvert said.  “This report provides important options to consider in achieving our vision of building a province where no one is left behind on the path to opportunity.  It is a priority for my government that Saskatchewan people are able to take full advantage of education and training, so they can build their career and future here.”

Following extensive consultation throughout Saskatchewan, Regina Elphinstone-Centre MLA Warren McCall, now Minister of Corrections and Public Safety developed 45 options and recommendations.  Outlined in his interim report titled Post-Secondary Education Accessibility and Affordability Review, the options and recommendations include:

• Develop a comprehensive strategy that provides students in Grades 7 through 12 with education and career-related information and experiences that they need to help them think about their future.
• Investigate a balanced approach that reflects both universal and targeted supports to improve affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education and skills training.
• Engage the federal government and Aboriginal people in a dialogue around developing culturally and socially-relevant non-financial supports to complement additional financial supports for Aboriginal people wanting to enter and complete post-secondary education and skills training.
• Consider necessary changes to the student financial assistance program and simplify the application process by piloting an electronic/online application.  
• Expand the reach of scholarship programs by encouraging greater participation by business and industry as well as by creating a new grants-based program to disburse grants with matching funding.

“Saskatchewan has the advantage of a large number of young people reaching the age where they are thinking about careers, university and trades training,” McCall said.  “Accessible and affordable post-secondary education has always been important to Saskatchewan people.  As young people grow and look to their future here, our government is committed to helping them realize their dreams while meeting the changing needs of the labour market.”
Government has already responded to some of the public concerns that led to the recommendations.  One example is the Graduate Tax Exemption, which offers new graduates $100,000 in tax free income during their first five years of employment, with carryover provisions for a further five years.

Prior to releasing a final report, expected in the fall of 2007, Minister McCall will engage in further research and discussion with stakeholders.

The Review report is available online at http://www.aeei.gov.sk.ca/post-secondary-education-accessibility-affordability-review-report.

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For more information, contact:

Terry White
Advance Education and Employment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791
Email: twhite@sasked.gov.sk.ca