At Issue: Education... “60/40” split on loans offered by government New funding plan, if adopted, will accompany higher loan limits | BY BRUCE DAVISON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS proposed a 60/40% funding split with the provinces on financial assistance to students. The proposal was formally made at last week's Council of Ministers of Education meeting of their Deputy Ministers. The federal government is proposing that for every dollar students receive under a more generous loan program, 60 cents be federal money and 40 cents be provincial money. If the provinces agreed to pay 40% of all student aid, instead of (in P.E.I.’s case) only offering a bursary to the few students who qualify for a full federal student loan, then the weekly loan limit would increase from $105 to $165. This would mean that the maximum annual amount available to a student (for a 32 week academic year) would increase from $3360 to $5280- the first increase ina decade. In most cases, this would also mean that the level of financial assitance paid out by provinces would increase significantly as the bulk of financial assitance provided to students is through federal student loans. P.E.I. Minster of Education Keith Milligan had mentioned the possibility of such a funding system at a recent meeting with the U.P.E.I. Student Union Council. The emergence of a 60/40 funding plan has also been followed intently by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). One ominous detail of the new federal proposal remains that provinces would be required to accept a new needs assessment methodology for student loans- the details of which are as yet unclear, at least to this reporter. CORRECTION: | would like to “clarify” part of the article that appeared in this column two weeks ago. In it, | quote Keith Milligan, Minister of Education, as having said “I did think, personally speaking, of privatizing the student loan portfolio.” In fact, what he said was “I did NOT think, personally speaking, of privatizing the student loan portfolio.” [my emphasis] This statement is really important, because it (hopefully) signifies that he would be opposed to privatizing provincial financial assistance as has been done in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (with what many believe have been disastrous consequences for students). COMING NEXT WEEK: Ideas and suggestions for finding that elusive summer job. ivi Aviation at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Transport Canada PUBLIC NOTICE TRANSPORT CANADA IS LOOKING FOR TRAINEES TO BECOME AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. Transport Canada will be holding information sessions on air traffic control; a rewarding career that offers many benefits. These sessions will be held in English at the following location: * Charlottetown, P.E.I., The Prince Edward Hotel, 18 Queen Street, on Tues., March 22, Sessions include presentations by members of the profession. REQUIREMENTS * High school diploma © Good health ¢ Motivation, alertness © Willingness to relocate TRAINING * Six to seven months at the Transport Canada Training Institute (T CTI) in Cornwall. Transports Canada Aviation challenging fields. LOOKING FOR WORK? You have the education, now it's time to learn a skill. You've learned a lot at university. You've learned much more than facts and theories. You know how to work independently, how to think for yourself, how to handle pressure. You're self-confident, adaptable. But you don't have a job. We can't promise you one. But we can help provide you with the skills you'll need for a promising future in a number of We operate a little differently. * Additional training in your region from three to 24 months, depending upon location, * Training allowance starts at $350 per week. If you want to find out more about a career in air traffic services, come to an information Session in your area, or call 1-800-667-INFO (1-800-667-4636) for details. z SE. Pe erirb hoes a ee ee a if you plan to attend an information session, please hand in this completed coupon on arrival to a Transport Canada representative. (Print clearly) NAME ADDRESS CITY/TOWN PROVINCE TEL ty NAME OF YOUR COLLEGE/CEGEP/UNIVERSITY: POSTAL CODE Transport Canada is an equa! opportunity employer. Canada ice Aamoliand RY No matter what option you choose, you'll find education a little different at Holland College. We believe you learn by doing. And not just in the classroom. Before you go to work, we put you to work, On-the-job training in a real-world setting is a key part of every program. You don't need a degree to enter our programs. But you do need self-discipline, creativity and independence of thought. CHECK US OUT: ¢ Human Services/Community Living Worker * Photography ¢ Journalism * Fashion Arts * Youth Worker Put that education to work. Entrance requirement and tuition fees vary by program. Contact the Holland College Admissions Office for full details, (902) 566-9600 or at the address below. Charlottetown Centre 140 Weymouth Street Charlottetown, P.E.I. CtA 421 [_ x.pressmarch fifteenth 1994 page 5 | co