SGEU demands reimbursement after college failures

The closure of two Academy of Learning campuses in Saskatchewan confirms that post-secondary education and training should not be left to the private sector.

Regina (9 Sept. 2009) - The government of Saskatchewan should reimburse tuition and wages lost by students and employees at two failed private colleges, says the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).

The union made the demand following the closure of two Academy of Learning campuses in Regina and Swift Current.

The failures prove once again that post-secondary education and training should not be left to the private sector, the union argues.

"Despite regulations brought in the last time private schools collapsed, we again find students losing their hard earned money and time," says SGEU president Bob Bymoen. "These students should be fully reimbursed by the international business that franchises them and offered placement in the public system," he says.

Saskatchewan needs to guarantee high quality training standards and the best way to do this is through the province's publicly-delivered system of technical and theoretical skills training, Bymoen argues.

“We hope the provincial government will quickly facilitate the reimbursement of lost tuition to the students and back wages for the employees.”

SGEU represents the academic and professional services staff at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), as well as employees of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the province’s regional colleges and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC).

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE