Advanced Education Minister, Bronwyn Eyre. Photo courtesy Manfred Joehnck.
Advanced Education Minister, Bronwyn Eyre, is calling for all sides to work together for the sake of the students in the transfer of the Northern Teachers Education Program to Northlands College this fall.
The issue was raised during the daily question period in the legislature today, with the NDP Opposition demanding to know whether all current students will be guaranteed a spot at Northlands.
Quoting from a news release from the college, Eyre says they would. She also says issues like the transfer of assets from NORTEP are still being worked out, although she adds it is up to NORTEP what it does.
NORTEP indicated it plans to turn over its assets, including student residences to Gabriel Dumont Institute, but Eyre says that is not necessarily a done deal.
“Probably a little of bit of he said, she said, he said. I’ve heard the assets were given to GDI, they might not take them, they might take them, it’s really up to them.”
What is being lost in all of this, said Bronwyn Eyre, is the students. She says it’s important Northlands, NORTEP and GDI work together in the best interests of the students.
“We don’t want this to pit institution against institution in any way, this is all about the students, and I think it is really important that NORTEP be part of this with Northlands and with GDI,” she said.
Funding for the current NORTEP program ends at the end of July.
Northlands is currently encouraging all current and students to apply. It has indicated the application process is simply a formality for current students, but it needs to be done because there is no guarantee NORTEP will hand over the files.