Bursaries to Enable Young People to Learn English and French
OTTAWA, March 19, 1997 -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, and the Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, and Minister of Education of Prince Edward Island, the Honourable J. Chester Gillan, today signed two agreements for the renewal, in 1997-1998, of two Canadian-wide linguistic exchange programs designed to encourage young people at the post-secondary level to learn English and French.The Summer Language Bursary Program enables young people to attend immersion courses in English or French during the summer. The Official Languages Monitor Programoffers young students an opportunity for full-time or part-time employment in their mother tongue by assisting teachers of English or French as a second language in the classroom. Each of these programs also has a French mother tongue component intended for Francophones outside Quebec.
"These two language exchange programs have made an enormous contribution to bilingualism in Canada, and to building bridges of understanding and friendship," said Minister Copps. "They help young Canadians to learn more about themselves, reinforcing our collective identity."
"The signing of these agreements marks a partnership of more than 25 years between the CMEC and the Government of Canada. My colleagues and I are very pleased to be part of these important programs that provide opportunities to so many of our young people to learn English and French and to see another part of the country," said Mr. Gillan.
The Summer Bursary Program has existed for 27 years, and 1997-98 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Monitor Program. These two programs are administered by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada in co-operation with the provincial and territorial departments of Education. In 1997-98, the total contribution of the federal government under these two agreements will amount to $16,754,336; nearly 6,200 young people in all parts of Canada will be able to take part in linguistic exchanges and some 890 second- language monitor positions will be available across the country.
Funding for this project is provided for in the federal budget tabled in February 1997 and is included in the existing financial framework.
Information:
Julia Arnsby
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Boyd Pelley
Director of Official Languages
CME
(416) 964-2552, ext. 241
Boyd@cmec.ca
Robert Bousquet
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 994-4239
BACKGROUNDER
SUMMER LANGUAGE BURSARY PROGRAM
The Summer Language Bursary Program (SLBP) was created in 1970-71 under the Official Languages in Education Program in response to the recommendations contained in the Report on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.
The Program is funded by the federal government and administered by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), in co-operation with the ministers of Education of the provinces and territories.
The Program offers bursaries to students in all parts of Canada to enable them to attend a five-week immersion course in their second official language during the summer in an accredited post-secondary institution. The program has a component for Francophones outside Quebec that affords them the opportunity to improve their skills in French. The courses also enable young people to become better acquainted with the culture associated with the language they are learning.
Nearly 60 courses are offered by the approximately 40 institutions participating in all the provinces.
The amount of the bursary is $1,550 and it is given directly to the institution. It covers tuition fees, cultural activities and accommodation on the campus or with a family. Students are usually responsible for travel expenses and their personal expenses.
Since its creation, nearly 158,000 post-secondary students have participated in the Program. Next summer, nearly 6,200 more will be added. Of these, 230 young Francophones outside Quebec will travel to Quebec or New Brunswick to attend their courses. More than 2,620 young Canadians will learn English as a second language, and nearly 3,350 will learn French as a second language.
The Department of Canadian Heritage will contribute $10,135,161 over the next year; this is in addition to the $43 million provided in the first four years of the five- year agreement.
The enrolment deadline is normally February 15 of each year. Brochures are available at secondary and post-secondary institutions, at the Department of Education in each province and territory and at the CMEC.
BACKGROUNDER
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES MONITOR PROGRAM
The Official Languages Monitor Program (OLMP) was created in 1973-74 under the Official Languages in Education Program in response to the recommendations contained in the Report on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.
The Program is funded by the federal government and administered by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), in co-operation with the ministers of Education of the provinces and territories.
The Program affords young people at the post-secondary level the opportunity to become full-time or part-time monitors who work in the classroom with an instructor, in order to enrich second language or French, mother tongue, courses.
Full-time monitors live in a rural or semi-urban community. They are employed for nine months, from September to May, work an average of 25 hours per week and earn $11,400. Monitors can also receive an allowance for two return trips between their permanent residence and the province or territory where they work, a moving allowance and an allowance to cover the cost of commuting between their residence and workplace.
Part-tine monitors, while pursuing their post-secondary studies, work for eight months, from September to April, for an average of eight hours per week, in an urban community. They receive remuneration of $3,500. Monitors can also receive an allowance for one return trip between their permanent residence and the province or territory where they work.
Since its creation, nearly 24,000 young people at the post-secondary level have participated in the Program. Next year, 890 more will be added. Approximately 75% will be part-time and 25% full-time monitors. More than 520 will be French as a second language monitors; nearly 210, English as a second language monitors; and nearly 160, French as a mother tongue monitors, in Francophone communities outside Quebec.
The Department of Canadian Heritage will provide $6,619,175 over the next year; this is in addition to the $30 million provided in the first four years of the five-year agreement.
The enrolment deadline is normally February 15 of each year. Brochures are available at post-secondary institutions, at the Department of Education in each province and territory and at the CMEC.
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