Funding to allow access to Green Certificate Program
Changes to the Green Certificate Program will allow more students to access the agriculture program. In a recent announcement at the Meyers’ farm in Coaldale, Education Minister David Eggen said students looking to access the GCP will no longer have to worry about the barrier of money.
“The Green Certificate Program is part of our high school program. It’s a way in which students can get credit for farming knowledge and farming learning in the school and outside the school as well. It’s that nice combination of classroom and industry and apprenticeship in a way,” said Eggen.
“Last year, as part of my initiative to reduce school fees in the province of Alberta, we chose to remove the tuition that was associated with the Green Certificate Program, and so while it cost up to $1,000 for the tuition for the green certificate, it is now no charge at all.”
The province will be providing $400,000 in funding to the program to cover the course fees for the students. Currently, over 750 participate in the program each year.
Eggen assured those looking to access the program now that the money barrier is gone will not be turned away, even if there’s “a big rush” of students looking to access it.
Ethan Meyer, 16, will be one of those students participating in the GCP. Meyer started his egg business when he was seven years old and was looking to raise money to buy himself an iPad. He kept Ethan’s Eggs running over the years. It takes him about one to two hours a day to take care of the eggs, and he sells about 90 dozen eggs a week.
“(It was) $1,000 or so before, and that’s coming out of my pocket. Now, I don’t have to pay that and there’s less stress, I guess, on getting the money to do this program in order to get the credits I need for school,” said Meyer, noting between his business, school and sports his days are quite busy. “That’s about three classes that I don’t have to worry about, or I don’t have to take, I guess, so the stress level is a lot more manageable, taking this program, and it puts my knowledge and skills of poultry farming to use.”
In addition to the elimination of the tuition for the GCP, poultry technician was added to the lists of programs offered through the GCP as it expands. Running his egg business means he can’t get a typical part-time job, although Meyer says he prefers selling eggs.
“It develops my already pre-existing knowledge of poultry farming, stuff like that. Being able to take the program will further progress my knowledge in that area and, I guess, the business and marketing section of it, too. Being able to do that, will overall help my business and all aspect of it.”
After graduating high school, Meyer plans on going to university, hopefully on a golf scholarship, and studying either medicine or computer science. He plans to keep his business going through high school, and advises aspiring young egg entrepreneurs to never give up.
“It builds you the knowledge and skills you need for when you’re older, so just keep at it and you’ll get somewhere soon.”
The GCP was created in 1975 by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, in order to address labour market needs for the province’s agriculture sector.