May 11, 1999
(Education)

The following statement was issued today by Judy Foote, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Today I am pleased to release CareerSearch, the most current and comprehensive report of employment outcomes and experiences of postsecondary graduates ever produced in the province. The report contains the results of a telephone survey of 1996 graduates conducted approximately one year following graduation. The purpose of the initiative is to provide educators, program planners, career counselors, institution administrators and, most importantly, students and the public with current, relevant information on graduate outcomes.

This report provides information on the actual employment success, initial earnings and satisfaction levels of graduates at the program and institutional level. The information will enable the public to assess the extent to which individual programs at Memorial University (including the Marine Institute), the College of the North Atlantic and the private colleges generate positive outcomes for graduates.

CareerSearch consists of two documents; one for Memorial University (including Sir Wilfred Grenfell College and the Marine Institute) and the other for the College of the North Atlantic and the private colleges in the province. Each document contains individual program profiles using nine graduate outcome indicators.

This report gives students unparalleled access to current career information, enabling them to make informed decisions. Prospective students may weigh the relative costs and benefits of a program in relation to their own aspirations and expectations.

This compilation of evidenced based research will be made available in all high schools and postsecondary institutions across the province and will be available on government's Internet site. In addition, a series of in-service sessions will be offered to school district personnel and others involved in counseling youth on career decisions.

I present the CareerSearch documents as evidence of the government's continued commitment to accountability for educational performance. It is the latest in a series of initiatives developed by the government to improve the quality and accountability of this province's education system at both the postsecondary and K-12 levels.

1999 05 11                                     2:20 p.m.