Advanced Education and Skills
Education and Early Childhood
Development
April 30, 2015
Supporting High-Quality Education for a Sustainable Future
Budget 2015 Provides Approximately $1.4 Billion for Early Childhood Education, K-12 and Post-Secondary
With investments totalling approximately $1.4 billion, Budget 2015
further highlights the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's vision for
life-long learning that begins in the early years and continues through to
post-secondary education. These investments are helping provide
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with the skills and knowledge they need to
compete globally and capitalize on the exciting career opportunities that
exist in this province both now and into the future.
Of this
investment, $926 million is through the Department of Education and Early
Childhood Development to support key initiatives, including the continued
implementation of the 10-year child care strategy, Caring for Our Future.
"The Provincial Government is focused on enhancing the
continuum of education from birth through post-secondary schooling to give
our youth the best possible start to achieve their lifelong goals. While as
a province we are facing fiscal challenges, it is our responsibility to
ensure that we continue to deliver and advance a high-quality education
system. We will work with our stakeholders to focus on our multi-year
education infrastructure plan and strengthen curriculum through the use of
technology and incorporating modern teaching strategies and the learning
styles of today's students."
- The Honourable Derrick
Dalley, Acting Minister of Education
As part of the multi-year
education infrastructure development plan, over $95 million is allocated
this year for K-12 infrastructure to address short and longer-term
provincial needs. This includes more than $8 million for projects such as
new schools on the Avalon Peninsula and extension projects including
Riverside Elementary in Clarenville. Over $65 million will be used to
continue ongoing school construction and extension projects and nearly $22
million for renovations and maintenance. Approximately $10.5 million is
provided this fiscal year for the continued implementation of full-day
Kindergarten which will commence in September 2016.
The Provincial Government's commitment
to education extends beyond early childhood and the K-12 system to
supporting affordable and accessible post-secondary education for students,
communities and the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. Budget 2015
follows through on the commitment to eliminate provincial student loans and
replace these loans with non-repayable grants.
The Provincial
Government will also continue to support a tuition freeze for Canadian
undergraduate students at Memorial University. Budget 2015 provides funding
to Memorial University to maintain the tuition freeze and as a result of
this funding, tuition will remain the lowest in Canada. The Provincial
Government will continue to support a tuition freeze for students at College
of the North Atlantic. Affordable, accessible post-secondary education will
help to enhance the employment prospects of graduates and will ensure the
province obtains the greatest benefit from its economic opportunities.
"We are proud of our record of investments in post-secondary
education and our government will continue to support students. In today's
global community, education is vital for success and we are committed to
ensuring that our students have the knowledge and skills required to be the
leaders of tomorrow as reflected by Newfoundland and Labrador's
post-secondary system being the most affordable in Canada."
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills
The
Provincial Government has been strategically investing in Newfoundland and
Labrador's apprenticeship system over the past decade. Approximately $20
million in Budget 2015 will go towards skilled trade development and a
variety of initiatives to revitalize the apprenticeship system. As a result,
the province's post-secondary institutions are well-equipped to meet the
needs of students, preparing them to succeed in the workforce and
positioning them to capitalize on the opportunities available in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
For further details, see Budget 2015 fact sheet:
Education and Early Childhood Development.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government is investing a total of approximately $1.4 billion in early childhood education, K-12 and post- secondary.
- Of this investment, $926 million is through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to support key initiatives. This includes the continued implementation of the 10-year child care strategy, Caring for Our Future.
- Other initiatives through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development include over $95 million as part of the multi-year education infrastructure development plan for K-12 schools with more than $8 million for new projects, more than $65 million for ongoing projects and nearly $22 million for renovations and maintenance.
- Budget 2015 follows through on the commitment to eliminate provincial student loans and replace these loans with non- repayable grants.
- Budget 2015 provides funding to Memorial University to maintain the tuition freeze for Canadian undergraduate students and as a result of this funding, tuition will remain the lowest in Canada. The Provincial Government will also continue to support a tuition freeze for students at College of the North Atlantic.
- Approximately $20 million in Budget 2015 will go towards skilled trade development and a variety of initiatives to revitalize the apprenticeship system.
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Media contacts:
| Tina Williams Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-6939, 728-2837 tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca |
Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca |