The NDP opposition is criticizing the provincial government for the transition process for students following the closure of the Northern Teachers Education Program.
This past March NORTEP was taken over by Northlands College.
There have been some reports of transition issues through the process. Some students have claimed they didn’t know what financial supports would be available to them until it was too late.
During Question Period on Monday NDP advanced education critic Vicki Mowat says students had more questions than answers during the transition process.
“Students knew their program was being cut, but they didn’t know what supports would be available to them,” Mowat told the assembly. “These are not families that can afford to plan around so much uncertainty.”
Mowat also questioned why the government would decide to close a program that has been running for over 40 years. She also questioned the decision to chose Northlands College when the selection committee chose Gabriel Dumont Institute.
Advanced Education Minister Herb Cox says the Sask. Party Government is committed to post-secondary education in the north.
“We acknowledge that this transition has been a challenge for the community and we are confident the enrollments will increase as Northlands College increase their recruitment efforts,” he said.
Cox also spoke on the over 40 year history of Northlands College and their increase in university services over the past decade. He repeated the government’s position that the consolidation of NORTEP is about sustainability.
No official numbers are available at this time to provide accurate enrollment numbers in the program for this year, however some have reported anecdotally that numbers are down.
(PHOTO: A screenshot of NDP Advanced Education Critic Vicki Mowat during the sitting of the Legislative Assembly on December 4.)