Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS people with post-secondary education are six times more likely to have employment, and completing post-secondary education dramatically increases the lifetime prospects of having well-paid, stable employment;

AND WHEREAS post-secondary education programs require secondary school graduates to have earned specific course credits for entry to programs;

AND WHEREAS students may not learn or realize early enough that they are not taking the courses needed for specific post-secondary programs;

AND WHEREAS students who are lacking courses required for entry to specific education programs must take upgrading courses if they are to be accepted into their chosen programs;

AND WHEREAS student financial assistance is available to attend post-secondary educational programs and for certain intake programs providing upgrading for entry to a limited number of post-secondary programs;

AND WHEREAS some students in some programs are able to access other territorial and federal

funding programs to support their upgrading, such as Income Support and Employment Insurance;

AND WHEREAS the lack of student financial assistance to take secondary school upgrading programs is preventing students who want to pursue higher education from earning required credits;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that eligibility for the Student Financial Assistance Program be expanded to include students taking full-time secondary school upgrading programs in preparation for post-secondary education.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.