August 10, 1998
(Education)

Moratorium on registration of new private colleges

The Minister of Education, Roger Grimes, has announced a moratorium on the registration of new private colleges. The moratorium means there will not be any new schools allowed to register for this year, including any schools currently in the process of obtaining registration.

"We do not want new schools entering into the system while we are in the middle of a review process. This review process and any amendments made to the act will help improve the private college system," said Mr. Grimes, "and new schools seeking to register will be better served by waiting until the new legislation is ratified."

Grimes said that when Dr. Phil Warren completes his review of the Private Training Schools Act and Regulations, the legislation will then be dealt with during the fall sitting of the House. It is anticipated the earliest date for registration of new schools would not be until early in the new year. All schools will then be registered in accordance with the new legislation.

Dr. Warren, hired by the Department of Education to conduct an independent review of the regulation of private colleges, is currently consulting with other jurisdictions, the National Association of Career Colleges, the Accreditation Commission, graduates and students. His travel across the province to solicit public input will begin in September.

Contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-0048.

1998 08 10         3:50 p.m.