Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Education is so important. We need to encourage students to graduate and go on to college and university. That is the message we give our Grade 12 graduates when we speak at their high school ceremonies.
It’s a huge transition for our young adults to make the big decision to leave home to further their education and to step up in life. They are continuing to grow and shape their future. We give them advice, we wish them well and we encourage them to do their very best, and at the same time, they are afraid. They are scared and feel alone.
One of my constituents went to Aurora College in Inuvik to attend the Access Program. It’s my understanding that the Access Program is to prepare students to enter the program of their choice, whether it be nursing, teaching or renewable resources. This student, a high school graduate and ready to venture out on his own, was told on the first day that he was not eligible for the Access Program. Staff told him to withdraw and to let the residence manager know that he will be leaving the residence.
This young adult made every attempt on his own to apply to college, apply to SFA and for any bursaries available to him, and he was successful. He was out on his own and was excited about a new career, a new opportunity, just to be told, basically, to go home.
Our college should have encouraged this student to stay and study. Our college should have given advice, encouragement and prepared him, or even given options of what can be done. Stay here and we will prepare you. Instead, we tell him to go home. This young man has no desire to go back to school after being told you’re not good enough. We need to open doors. We need you as a model. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll have questions later today.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
