April 29, 1996
(Education)

The following statement was issued today by Roger D. Grimes, Minister of Education:

Ministerial statement - Minister announces fiscal measures

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is facing a serious financial problem for this year of nearly $290 million. In order to address this shortfall and anticipated difficult financial circumstances into the next year, it must address major structural changes in the services that it provides, the location of these services, and the way in which these services are delivered and administered.

In the area of education and training, these budget difficulties are further compounded by a reduction in federal transfer payments for Post-Secondary Education, Health and Social Services areas; the phase out over the next three years of course purchases from the Government of Canada through Human Resource Development Canada programs; and the reduction in training adjustment funding available through programs such as the Atlantic Groundfish Strategy.

While funding reductions are a major contributor to the significant measures that are to be taken, a decline in the number of students in the high schools is resulting in a decline in students seeking admission to post-secondary education and training programs. A decline in the number of high school graduates is expected to continue well into the next century.

A number of measures were being considered with respect to the reorganization of the college system to improve its program delivery; the decisions being announced today reflect the streamlining of administrative structures and other measures made necessary by budgetary considerations.

The current five Regional Colleges - Cabot, Eastern, Central Newfoundland, Westviking and Labrador - will be merged to form a single Provincial College, governed by a Provincial Board and administered by a single headquarters. This initiative will reduce duplication of executive, administrative, programming and support services currently required to operate the five separate colleges. The implementation of this measure will begin immediately with an expectation to have the major components in place by early fall.

The current college system offers programs through 24 campus sites. Each of these sites have administration, support, program and maintenance and security requirements in order to operate them. The number of campus sites will be reduced this current year from 24 to 19. The Parade Street Campus and the Anna Templeton Centre at Duckworth Street in St. John's will be closed with their current programs at these locations moved to the Prince Philip Drive campus location. The campuses at Bell Island, Lewisporte and Springdale will be closed beginning in September 1996. The current programs at these locations, which need to remain in place in the province, will be accommodated at other remaining campus locations. Colleges will work with students in programs at these sites to minimize the impacts of these measures.

First-year university courses are currently offered by the college system in conjunction with Memorial University at campuses in Burin, Carbonear, Clarenville, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Lewisporte and Labrador City. In addition, Memorial University offers programs at St. John's and the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook.

Beginning in September 1996, first-year university offerings at the college locations will cease at Burin, Carbonear, Clarenville, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Lewisporte, but will continue at Labrador City.

Applications for first-year university programs have declined and will continue to decline in the foreseeable future, as a result of declining enrollments. The college sites serviced about 730 students last year. Enrolments at these campuses (with the exception of Carbonear) have declined over the past two years with applications for these sites down by about 150 for this coming September. With new applications down by about 700 at the university, these students can be accommodated at the main campus of Memorial University and its Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook.

These measures in the post-secondary education system will result in the loss of about 250 positions throughout the college system. It is expected that a budgetary reduction of approximately $8 million will be realized.

Measures such as these, at this time, will allow government to stabilize its contribution to post-secondary education in the future. This will allow the new Provincial College to concentrate its resources and efforts in developing and providing quality programs to the people of the province.

K to 12 System

Today, I have notified school board chairs of those decisions which impact directly on boards, which have Collective Agreement considerations, in order for the necessary adjustments to be made for the school year beginning September 1996.

The total number of superintendents and assistant superintendents shall be reduced from 78 to 30, effective September 1, 1996. The total number of program co-ordinators which boards will be permitted to employ is reduced from 118 to 52, effective September 1, 1996. The remaining 66 positions designated as program co-ordinators are to be used at the school level in the classroom for the 1996-97 school year, resulting in an increase in classroom resources. This decision is consistent with government's intention to minimize reductions at the classroom level.

The substitute teacher budget has been reduced. The new allocations will provide adequate substitute teacher days to replace teachers who are on non-discretionary leave such as illness. As a result of this reduction, boards have been advised to cancel all activities which require discretionary leave, such as professional development, until final substitute allocations are provided.

I have requested the boards make these changes within the time requirements of the Collective Agreement.