Public skills training eroded

We need a strong public post-secondary education system to help train our young people to take on skilled jobs in our rapidly growing labour market.

Yet government is not doing enough to expand our capacity to train students. It is growing increasingly difficult to hire and retain instructors and professional staff because wages and benefits for SIAST and regional college staff are no longer competitive.

Private, for-profit post-secondary skills training.  What's the bottom line?

The Wall government is quietly<br /> privatizing Saskatchewan's post-secondary training

SIAST has stopped delivering some key training courses, which are now being offered by private companies. These include first aid and safety training, truck driver training, and heavy equipment operator instruction.

The number of private vocational schools in the province has increased from 38 in 1994 to 50 in 2011. But turning post-secondary skills training over to private companies isn't the answer.

Students pay the price

  • In 2009/10, three private vocational schools run by the Academy of Learning in Regina, Swift Current and Estevan were shut down because they failed to meet provincial standards. Students faced the possibility that they would lose their tuition, as well as the time they had spent in the program.
  • Students pay more for private post-secondary skills training on average. Tuition fees for a SIAST student in 2009-10 were $3,336. University students paid $5,015. Meanwhile, tuition fees at private vocational schools were $7,439.

Privatization plan blocked

  • A recent attempt to privatize a public regional college in Saskatchewan is a clear example of how handing public services over to private interests can have disastrous consequences.
  • A proposed merger between the public Carlton Trail Regional College and the private St. Peter's College, was finally shut down after an independent review raised concerns about financial misconduct involving taxpayers' money. The public release of the report led to the termination of the private college's CEO.
  • The review of the proposed merger between the two Humbolt-area colleges, by consulting group Meyers Norris Penny, pointed out the merger would effectively transfer public assets and public funds to a private institute, where there would be virtually no accountability to government. According to the report, those pushing for a merger proposed that the transfer occur for a nominal cost, such as a symbolic $1.00 fee.
  • The publicly-run Carlton Trail Regional College is, according to Meyers Norris Penny, "financially stable, producing modest surpluses from year-to-year in an effort to manage fluctuations in programming levels." In contrast, the report noted concerns about the financial position of St. Peter's College and pointed to numerous infractions, such as inappropriate use of restricted funds, and failure to comply with Canada Revenue Agency rules.
  • The former CEO, Glen Kobussen, was reimbursed by the St. Peter's College board for buying a $1,000 membership in the Saskatchewan Party Enterprise Club, and had a $62,700 vehicle purchased for him by the college, even though the institution was not on a solid financial footing.

The bottom-line: When public services -like post-secondary education - are turned over to private interests, we lose accountability and control.