Government announces measures to make post-secondary
education more affordable for students

Sandra C. Kelly, Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education, announced today that government has earmarked a further $3.5 million in additional funding to Memorial University of Newfoundland to enable a 10 per cent reduction in tuition fees. The reduction will apply to all programs with the exception of the Marine Institute (which has similar fees to the College of the North Atlantic) and the Medical School where government will ask the Board of Regents to extend the tuition freeze for a further year.

"We are providing funding for a 10 per cent reduction. However, before we ask Memorial�s Board of Regents to consider a reduction, we want to consult with students and the university and hear their advice on how best to invest this money," said Minister Kelly. "If, as we suspect, there is agreement that this money should go to tuition reductions then that is where we will channel this money. However, if there are other ways to better use this funding for the benefit of students, then we will listen. Following the Budget, we plan to hold a roundtable with university student leaders and Memorial�s administration to have this discussion."

If a tuition reduction is approved it would come into effect as of September 2002. The tuition freeze initiated at the College of the North Atlantic will continue through the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

"These measures highlight not only government�s commitment to making post-secondary education more affordable in our province, but also our willingness to listen to important stakeholders in the post-secondary education process. We are hoping that this investment will build on the efforts we have already made to address the issue of student debt," said Minister Kelly.

Tuition fees at Memorial University of Newfoundland are currently $2,970 per academic year, (which consists of two terms). The tuition reduction could potentially translate into a reduction of $297 per student each year. This would bring fees to approximately $2,675 per year, the lowest tuition rate in Atlantic Canada, and one of the lowest rates in Canada.

With the continuation of the tuition freeze at the College of the North Atlantic for the fourth consecutive year, the college will continue to have one of the lowest tuition fees in Atlantic Canada.

Media contact: Janice Lockyer, Communications, (709) 729-6573.

2002 03 21                              3:30 p.m.