Edmonton, February 24, 2000 - Funding to hire more teachers and teacher aides and increased financial support for post-secondary students highlight the Government of Alberta’s commitment to the education system in Alberta.

In 2000-01, total spending on the education system in Alberta will reach $4.6 billion and will grow to more than $4.9 billion by 2002-03. Base program funding for Alberta Learning will climb by $766 million or about 19 per cent over the next three years.

"The budget reflects what we have been hearing from Albertans," said Dr. Lyle Oberg, Minister of Learning. "This clearly shows our government’s commitment to ensuring Albertans are well prepared to meet the challenges of the new century head-on."

For 2000-01, total spending will be about $1.1 billion, which represents an increase of nine per cent.

• Base operating support to post-secondary institutions will be $858 million, an increase of $34 million.
• Targeted funding to post secondary institutions of $95 million.
• An additional $28 million to expand post-secondary enrolments and to enhance access to apprenticeship training.
• Funding increases through performance for universities, colleges and technical institutes will average three per cent for each year over the next three years.
• $125 million for student assistance, an increase of $23 million, to help post-secondary learners meet education costs in the form of increased funding for student financial programs.
• Introduction of a new scholarship for second-year students worth $3 million.
• Student loan limits to be increased by $300 to reflect rising tuition costs. This will assist more than 47,000 students—an increase of about 1,500 students.
• The loan remission program for students will increase by $5 million in 2000-01. The program will increase from $34 million in 1999-00 to over $50 million in three years.

Dr. Oberg also noted that the provincial government will continue to work with industry to ensure Alberta’s apprenticeship and industry training system is able to respond to labour market needs for skilled and trained workers.

"By working together with school boards, teachers, parents, students, post secondary institutions and industry, we can remain on track to build on our priorities of lifelong learning and to move to a seamless system so that it can continue to be more responsive, accessible and affordable for all Albertans," added Dr. Oberg.

Alberta Infrastructure capital funding to support schools and post-secondary institutions in province

For 2000-01, $160 million has been allocated to address priority school capital projects to accommodate increased enrolments. Included is block funding to school boards of $40 million for ongoing repairs, $40 million for new facilities, $10 million for innovation funding and $70 million for the preservation and modernization of existing facilities.

Alberta Infrastructure’s 2000-01 Capital Budget for post-secondary institutions is $47.4 million, which will give universities, colleges and technical institutes greater flexibility to address present and future renovation and replacement needs and program expansion. This includes $12.4 million for program expansion through access funding, and $35 million to maintain existing post-secondary facilities in 2000-01.

Go to: Next Budget 2000 News Release or Backgrounder

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