Post-secondary plan needed
Education minister estimates international enrolment expected to drop by a third this fall
Opposition parties are calling on the province to provide concrete plans to help P.E.I. post-secondary education institutions experiencing a drop in enrolment this fall.
Education Minister Brad Trivers confirmed this week that post-secondary schools are expecting a one-third decline in international enrolment.
"In terms of domestic enrolment, it was fairly flat."
Trivers said he would table precise figures about projected enrolment in the legislature.
This expected drop in enrolment will likely have a significant impact on the finances of both UPEI and Holland College.
On Monday, Holland College announced it is suspending its dance performance, theatre performance, wood manufacturing, aircraft turbine technician and commercial diving programs. The changes have affected 29 staff, four of whom have been laid off. The remaining 25 will experience a reduction in hours.
Liberal MLA Robert Mitchell asked Trivers several questions about the financial health of the college during question period this week.
"Clearly, Mr. Speaker, the budget is not reflecting their needs. Otherwise we would not be seeing program cuts and layoffs," Mitchell said.
"What are you doing to support the students and educators that will be affected by these cuts?"
Trivers said Holland College is an independent institution that determines its own budgetary priorities, but the school did get an additional $1.2 million in the recent budget. This represents about a four-per-cent increase.
In an interview, Mitchell said the province needs to offer more funding to UPEI and Holland College.
"We have to do what we need to do now to help the institutions, to prop them up during a time when it looks like their revenue is going to be down," Mitchell said.
During question period, Green eduction critic Karla Bernard referred to a 2018 PriceWaterhouseCoopers report, commissioned by Holland College, that recommended a multi-year funding agreement between the province and the college.
"Has government reached an adequate multi-year funding agreement with Holland College?" Bernard asked.
Trivers said that Holland College has “stepped up” in its management of its operations and budget in recent years.
"They've made sure that they remain viable and able to give the services that they require to students," Trivers said.
"The negotiations we've had with them, I believe, have resulted in something that's satisfactory for both parties."