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June 27, 1997
(Education)


Education Minister says NAPE ads are misleading the public

The Minister of Education, Roger Grimes, says NAPE has been running a series of ads over the past few weeks on the provincial college system which are inaccurate. The ads state that government has withdrawn money from the public college system and passed it over to the private colleges.

"This is simply not the case," says Mr. Grimes. "Government doesn't spend a cent on the private college system. Private colleges are responsible for their own premises, the hiring of their own teachers, the setting of tuition, and selecting courses that are in public demand. The only role the Department of Education has is to accredit them, to ensure consistency with courses offered by the public colleges."

In a letter to the minister, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Career Colleges has also expressed concern over the NAPE ads saying they directly counteract the entrepreneurial spirit which private colleges strive to maintain.

Mr. Grimes said the growth in the number of private colleges in recent years is an example of people identifying and seizing business opportunities. Government has not supplied one cent of financial support to these entrepreneurs and their development has nothing whatsoever to do with any changes in our public college system.

The minister stated that the public college system was tasked to review its activities to ensure it's focused on programs and services directly related to the current and emerging opportunities in this province. These sectors include petroleum-related, mining and mineral development, information technology, manufacturing and other technology related and value-added opportunities. New direction in the programing at the college reinforces this direction and supports government plans for the economic development of Newfoundland and Labrador. There is no intent to privatize the college system.

Contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-5040.

1997 06 27 12:10 p.m.

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