Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I talked about the social work program being cut from Aurora College. I'd like to ask the Minister of Education what is the plan moving forward with the social work program at Aurora College, if there is any plan? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As it was mentioned, the social work program itself will continue to run for two more academic years. We aren’t taking any new students in, but all the students who are currently in the program will continue to get the support that they need to work on completing that diploma program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My concern today obviously was with the students in the social work access program. So I wonder if the Minister could talk to Aurora College about what would be the implications, I suppose, of extending the program for one year so that people who have entered in at the access level at this time also have an opportunity to complete their social work diploma?
The access program itself helps prepare students to get into a social work program or into other programs that Aurora College provides, or even other institutions. The students who are currently affected in the current access program who did show an interest into social work, the Aurora College staff have met with them and have come up with other plans, other career paths that they might want to take, and my understanding is that all five students have worked with the college to develop a new career path that they're looking at.
I'm very glad to hear that. That was my next question, if somebody was going to assist these individuals moving into another program of their choice. So can the Minister advise me of what programs are these students targeted for?
That's the Personal Support Worker Program. I believe one is going into the Office Administration Program and also applying at a southern institution. I'm not sure what the program is, but we do have another student who is applying to a southern institution.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not expecting the Minister maybe to have these answers at his fingertips, but I was wondering if the Minister could advise me how many of the students had graduated from the social work program in recent years? I'm looking for what's happened and how people had progressed into health and social services, and I'm just trying to get a feel for whether or not there's a level of success with the program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
From my side of things, we have graduated 12 social workers in the diploma program over the last three years, so on average it's about four students a year, and I think we can get that information in terms of how many have gone into employment within the Department of Health and Social Services and provide that with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
