March 28, 1986 Page 5

Excellence

-campus operations, will alle- viate much of his college’s tinancial pressures. “If we get no more money added to the base, we will be

is a public relations strategy

by KAREN GRAM

VANCOUVER (CUP) — Edu- cation lobbyists say the recent $4.4 million government fund- ing allocation for colleges and institutes is just another Soc- ial Credit public relations gimmick which gives British Columbians the false impres- sion that the government cares about excellence in edu- cation.

Paul Gallagher, Vancouver Community College president said he doubts the $4.4 mil- lion from the new excellence in education fund, of which $2.3 million will go towards non-salary inflation, $1.3 mil- lion to business development centres and $800,000 for multi

exceedingly tight next year,’’ he said.. Gallagher said VCC is expected to offer the same level of service next year even if they are funded at this year’s levels.

John Waters, president of the College-Institute Educat- ors Association, said he was- n't buying the ministry’s PR package.

‘‘The amount is so infinites- simal it’s ludicrous they even announced it,’’ said Waters.

“What the government is doing is very interesting. By announcing each drib and drab separately, they are try- ing to get the maximum polit- ical mileage,’’ said Waters.

Mark Rose, NDP Post Sec- ondary Education critic agrees.

‘“‘Can’t you just see all the smirking Socred MLAs a- warding prizes in their home ridings?’ he asked.

Rose described the excel- lence fund as a ‘‘shell game’’ in which money is shuffled from one area to another. ‘‘There is no new money,’’ he said. ‘‘The money has been stolent from other places.”’

Rose said the Socreds have taken ‘‘at least $110 million’ out of education each year for the past three years.

“And now they’re telling us they are putting it back in, but it’s not going back into operation budgets.’

‘To the average member of the general public, it sounds like restraint is over,’’ said Rose.

But Rose says restraint is not over. He points to the student aid allocation which the Socreds just announced they are doubling to $10 million.

“If they still had the grant program they cut two years ago, the budget would have been $50 million for this and last year. Ten million bucks for all the universities and colleges just means my kids won't be able to go,’’ he said.

Both Rose and Waters also complained the government is using education dollars to fund economic concerns be- cause $1.3 million is slated for

business development centres which were established last year with education dollars.

“| have no opposition to encouraging entrepreneurship but the government should be building that on top of a solid education base—not as a sub- stitute,’’ said Rose.

“| think it should come out of the Ministry of Small Busi- ness,’’ he added.

Fourteen business centres have bee established since last year at community col- leges. Brian Brookings, the manager of Capilano Col- lege’s centre said they were established by the govern- ment ‘‘to assist small bus- iness in the community.”

He said most of the centres, which will receive $80,000 each this year, have an office either on or off campus where they offer one-on-one bus- iness consulting, and semi- nars in areas not already covered by continuing edu- cation.

Brookings said the $80,000 will go to the salaries of the manager and assistant, cost of space, and promotion of the centre.

‘Most centres are charging on a cost recovery basis for workshops,’’ said Brookings.

The topic Humanities Institute presen- tation was the future of com- munity colleges. For all con- cerned students and commun- ity members in attendance, the prognosis given by the guest speakers was one of almost utter despair.

The main conclusion to be drawn from the presentation

the last fiscal policy, little was said as

to what can be done in response.

If our colleges are honestly seeking solutions to the prob- lems they are having with the government, | can forsee only two which are viable. Either the colleges can gain financial independence by a_ gradual shift towards private sector

this was sent to all M.P.s by ho. Flora McDonald, Minister. We thought we’d reprint it verbatim to let you see how your government operates.

We particularly liked the part where the provide a quote for the M.P., saying how wonderful the program {Ste

GENERIC NEWS RELEASE FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

CHALLENGE ‘86 - BRITISH COLUMBIA/CANADA SUMMER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

was that the problems lying funding and raised tuition

-Future shoc

by GORD HENRY fees; or they can initiate a

ahead for our community scheme to make the public colleges relate directly to the aware of the value of college provincial government's fiscal education within their com- policy. If the present or future munity, and thus, the inequi- provincial governments con- table distribution of tax reve- tinue to cut back funding to nue. education, a reduction in the _ It is obvious the small hope quality of instruction, avail- community colleges may har- ability of programs and the bour in relation to their finan- accessibility of a post-second- cial dilemma resides within ary education to lower income the political action to be taken groups, will inevitably result. in response to unjust govern-

Also mentioned at the pre- ment policies. The future for sentation was how the pro- our colleges does not lie in a vincial government is threat- theory as to what is to be ening college autonomy. By done in relation to external the targeting of extra’ funds problems, so much as it does towards academic programs in relation to the praxis of of its choice, the government how the theory can be com- is hindering the colleges’ bined into internal action. Let freedom to allocate funds to- us not, as concerned stud- wards programs they believe ents, community members are the best suited for unique and administrators alike, give community needs. lip service as support to the

(NAME OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT), on behalf of the Honourable Flora MacDonald Minister of Employment and Immigration, announced today that (DOLLARS) in federal contribution has been provided to local employers and community groups under Challenge '86 -

British Columbla/Canada Summer Employment Program.

(NAME OF M.P.) stated that (NUMBER) employers in (AREA) have received assistance under’

the federal portion of Challenge '86, to create (NUMBER) jobs for students.

Challenge '86 is a cooperative federal/provincial initiative which provides summer employment for students and youth in British Columbia. There are also projects

approved in this (AREA) under the provincial portions of Challenge *86.

“I know that these summer jobs assist many students in continuing their educatton and gaining valuable work experience. I wish all those students involved in the Challenge

"86 program a successful and profitable summer” said (NAME OF M.P.)

Approved employers will create jobs ranging from computer programming to forestry research to retail sales and hospitality services. Students and youg people seeking employment under this program should register with their local Canada Employment

Centre for Students.

Under Challenge ‘86, employers are offered a wage subsidy to provide employment and training opportunities for seconday and post-secondary students and young people from

April through October.

Although the Humanities problems facing the future of presentation more than ade- our colleges; instead, let us quately outlined the economic re-channel our hostilities into - 30 - problems community colleges acting on concrete, practical face in relation to government solutions.

A list of the federal applications which have been approved in (AREA) is attached.

For further information, contact: