 |
||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
The following statement was issued today by Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment. It was also read in the House of Assembly: It gives me great pleasure to stand before the House today and advise Honourable Members about an event that I will be attending later this afternoon. As Minister of Human Resources and Employment I have been invited to Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador to accept, on behalf of my department, the Student Affairs and Services Association of Canada's National Achievement Award for our Student Work and Service Program with Memorial University. The Student Work and Service Program, known as SWASP, was nominated for this national award during the 1998 Canadian Association of College and University Student Services Annual Conference in Ottawa. The National Achievement Award was judged by a committee comprised of college and university student service professionals from across the country. Their choice to recognize SWASP as an important and innovative support for Memorial students was based on the program's demonstration of creative partnerships that address issues important to post-secondary students. Many times our young people are told they have a good educational background but lack practical "on the job" experience. This presents a difficult challenge as our students are left wondering how they may get practical experience if they can't get their foot in the door. I believe SWASP addresses these challenges. Through SWASP's participating community agencies applicants are placed in a professional setting to gain important practical experience. In addition the student also receives valuable career counselling and a tuition credit to help with the cost of their education. Over the past two years SWASP has been in operation at Memorial University and it has assisted over 320 Memorial University students in preparing for their careers. Students have found this program a great support in their educational experience. The success of SWASP is not simply restricted to students of Memorial University. The program is also available to all employers in the province. Students can use their tuition voucher at any post-secondary educational institution in North America. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting our young people in their education and career goals. In 1998/99 the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will invest over $7.5 million in youth support and employment programs creating approximately 3,300 jobs. Of this funding, we are allocating over $2 million in the Student Work and Service Program. The federal government also contributed $1 million to the Community Service Component of SWASP. The National Achievement Award for Student Services is an affirmation that important partnerships between government and different sectors of our community work. While I am proud to identify government's contribution to SWASP I am also quick to recognize that SWASP would not be possible without the key supports of the federal government, other provincial departments, community agencies, educational institutions, the local business community and of course our hard working students. With this award both the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the people of our province will receive national recognition. I congratulate all the organizations and individuals for their hard work in making SWASP such an award winning success. 1998 12 03 2:35 p.m.
|
