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Newfoundland and Labrador is in the midst of a consultation process on its public post-secondary education system. The government has retained a commissioner and staff to conduct consultations, review submissions, and prepare recommendations.
The following letter appeared in newspapers throughout Newfoundland & Labrador.
October 22, 2004
Our province is in the midst of a consultation process on our public post-secondary education system. The provincial government has retained a commissioner and staff to conduct consultations and review submissions, then prepare a report making recommendations about the shape this province’s public post-secondary education system should take in the future.
Recently, our very new minister of education, Tom Hedderson, publicly indicated that it “might not be possible” for all the campuses of College of the North Atlantic to remain open, though which ones may become redundant is “still up in the air.”
NAPE believes it is unfortunate that this new minister has chosen to presuppose the outcome of the commission on public post-secondary education. We fear the minister has already prejudiced the entire process, which would be a grave disservice to the people of this province.
Access to affordable, quality public education is a right recognized by most modern democracies. Recent research by our own Department of Education shows that proximity to a campus of College of the North Atlantic greatly increases the likelihood that a person will pursue post-secondary education.
Since there is overwhelming evidence that post-secondary education increases employability and earnings, certainly our government should be doing everything in its power to encourage the residents of this province to further their education.
I hope the provincial government approaches the findings of the commission with an open mind. When the government makes decisions about our public college system, it makes decisions about the future of our people, particularly our rural people. There’s a lot at stake here. Let’s not jump to hasty conclusions.
Yours sincerely,
(original signed by)
Leo Puddister
President
Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees