Education
January 23, 2007
Rural Youth Explore Post-Secondary Options Through Travel Program
Memorial University, The Rooms and the
House of Assembly are just some places that students from rural
Newfoundland and Labrador can experience under the Department of
Education�s Intra-Provincial Travel Program. The Honourable Joan Burke,
Minister of Education, announced today that 10 rural school groups have
been provided funding to view educational and cultural facilities
outside their home communities.
�It�s easy for a student in St. John�s to check out opportunities at
local post-secondary campuses. The same cannot be said for students who
live in rural parts of our province,� said Minister Burke. �This program
was created so that more students can get a first-hand look at what�s
going on at Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic. We
hope this exposure to our post-secondary institutions and other cultural
and educational sites will not only inspire these young people to pursue
post-secondary education, but give them a level of comfort around living
away from home while attending school.�
To be considered for funding, schools submitted an application package
to the department, detailing the objectives for their trip and a planned
itinerary. Students will participate in campus tours, and visit cultural
and educational sites, science centres and business organizations.
�Many of these students may not have had the opportunity to visit a
larger center,� said Minister Burke. �Our hope is that by exposing them
to day-to-day life � including getting around campus and job shadowing �
their post-secondary experience will be enhanced.�
While this program can help these students make more informed life
choices, it also benefits their schools and communities. Students can
take the message back to their peers that there are exciting
opportunities beyond high school. And ultimately, these students can
return to their communities after acquiring their post-secondary
education or training and make valuable contributions to its growth and
development.
Funding has been provided to the following:
- Appalachia High School (St.
George�s), E.A. Butler All Grade (McKays) and Belanger Memorial
School (Upper Ferry);
- Point Leamington Academy (Point
Leamington);
- Cloud River Academy, Mary Simms All
Grade (Roddickton);
- St. James� Regional High (Port aux
Basques);
- Canon J.T. Richards Memorial Central
High School (Flower�s Cove);
- St. Mary�s All Grade (Mary�s Harbour);
- Sacred Heart School (Conche);
- Long Range Academy (Cow Head);
- Cottrell�s Cove Academy (Cottrell�s
Cove);
- Basques Memorial All Grade (Red
Bay).
Each of the groups will receive between
$1,100 and $5,800 to cover their travel expenses.
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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca
2007 01 23
11:10 a.m. |