NLIS 3
March 15, 2005
(Executive Council)
(Education)
Government reaffirms commitment to tuition
freeze
Premier Danny Williams and Education Minister
Tom Hedderson met with local and national representatives of the Canadian
Federation of Students and affiliated student unions this morning, to
discuss priorities for post-secondary students. Coming out of the meeting,
Premier Williams was pleased to reaffirm government�s commitment to provide
the funding to Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic to
enable those institutions to freeze tuition rates for post-secondary
students.
"In the Blueprint, we made a commitment to our post-secondary students and
today we have reaffirmed that commitment," said Premier Williams. "We must
ensure that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have access to high quality
programming at an affordable cost to enhance the employment prospects of
graduates and ensure that we are able to get the greatest benefit from our
economic opportunities. In today�s global community, education is vital for
success and our government is committed to accessibility and affordability,
so that our students have the tools they require to be the leaders of
tomorrow."
"Post-secondary students in Newfoundland and Labrador have a unique
advantage. They have access to high quality programming at a rate almost
half of the national average," said Minister Hedderson. "Through our tuition
subsidy and debt reduction program we have one of the most comprehensive
student financial support packages in the country."
Government continues to work on a comprehensive renewed framework for public
post-secondary education in Newfoundland and Labrador. The White Paper will
be released to the public this Spring. The tuition freeze for domestic
students will remain in effect for the 2005-06 year.
Media contact:
Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960,
690-5500, elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Lynn Salter, Communications, Education, (709) 729-0048, 695-5000
2005 03 15
11:55 a.m.
|