Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today focuses on the priority of ensuring that students graduated from Grade 12 but without the course credits they need to pursue their chosen careers are receiving the assistance they require. Too many times I hear the story of students who have worked hard and graduated with high school diplomas, only to find they are lacking the types of course credits necessary to enter specific post-secondary programs.
While our school counselling services work hard to advise students throughout high school, these stories often contain the statement, “If only I’d known.” Students who achieve Grade 12 lacking necessary course credits -- usually it’s the sciences and maths -- are then stalled by the need to do upgrading to enter some programs. Unfortunately, they sometimes give up.
Statistics show the need to deliver course-qualified students to post-secondary education is crucial. Students with a trade or post-secondary education are six times more likely to be working than students without post-secondary.
I am aware that the Minister is working on this through the aboriginal student and community initiatives, including improved counselling. But, meanwhile, we have a legacy of people with Grade 12 diplomas that are insufficient to enable access to post-secondary programs. We cannot leave these people hanging.
I am told there aren’t enough student financial assistance resources for the stranded graduates who face the costs of upgrading their education. The department must recognize this exceptional demand and government’s responsibility for this situation with an identified and larger support fund and outreach program to assist these students in upgrading and going on to post-secondary education. To this end, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister questions on these matters later today. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
