Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, the number of NWT students attending post-secondary institutions has increased by about 30 per cent over the past five years. Since most of these students are eligible for student financial assistance this increase has put pressure on the student financial assistance program.
To administer this program more effectively and to ensure we have the resources to help as many students as possible, revisions have been made to the student financial assistance regulations which have been implemented for the fall semester of this year.
Deadlines will be set for post-secondary students applying for assistance. Students planning to attend schools starting in the fall semester must submit their applications before June 15.
Students wishing to attend classes in the winter semester must apply for assistance before October 15. The students whose programs would start in the 1994 spring inter-session must apply before February 15, 1994. Students who apply after these deadlines will not receive funding for that semester and will have to reapply for funding for the following terms.
Revisions have also been made to the rate structure of student allowances so that they are consistent with rates paid by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to aboriginal post-secondary students in the rest of Canada. I would like to note, Mr. Speaker, that the Northwest Territories student financial assistance program is one of the most generous in Canada and will remain so after these changes are introduced.
A basic grant is available to people who attended school in the Northwest Territories for at least three years, plus supplementary grants are available also to aboriginal people born in the Northwest Territories.
Primary and secondary loans are available to people who have lived in the Northwest Territories for at least three years and a needs assessed loan is available for one year of residence and for students facing financial hardship.
A student financial assistance program also offers scholarships for academic excellence and post-secondary. There are currently 1,160 Northwest Territories residents attending college or university with the assistance of this program.
The Department responsible for Education, Culture and Employment Programs will be informing students of the upcoming changes. Students and parents with questions on the new rate structure are encouraged to contact the advanced education office located in the region or call the student services division of my department for more information.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that these changes were, in fact, given notice to this Assembly approximately one year ago.