“We know the students learning in these post-secondary schools are literally our future,” said Tajinder Grewal, Saskatchewan NDP Advanced Education Shadow Minister.
“But, after 18 years of Sask. Party failures, their education is costlier than ever and there have been repeated layoffs that will ultimately hurt the quality of education they receive.”
Sask Polytechnic recently laid off 14 employees and announced it would not fill eight vacant positions. The school already eliminated 27 jobs in April.
Grewal has heard the school may lose 100 positions by the end of the fall semester and that more layoffs could occur as soon as this week.
He’s also heard widespread reports of layoffs coming at other post-secondary schools as they grapple with Sask. Party underfunding. Previously, schools have closed the funding gap by enrolling more international students at a higher rate of tuition; however, recent changes to federal immigration policies have closed that avenue to cover up years and years of Sask. Party failure.
“We know that post-secondary is critical to efforts to get Saskatchewan healthcare out of last place, to build our economy for the future and so much more,” Grewal said. “The Sask. Party Minister will be before the media later today and I’m demanding that he publicly release all information about layoffs.
“Either he’s hiding the true impact of his government’s failures or he’s oblivious to them.”
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