 |
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
|
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VANCOUVER – The Province is investing almost $9 million in new student spaces, loan reduction and enhanced training for residential care aides and home support workers at B.C. public post-secondary institutions, Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell announced today while touring the construction site of Vancouver Community College’s new campus where 16 of the seats will be offered.
“This year, we’re investing $1.68 million in 213 new student spaces for residential care aides and home support workers to ensure that students interested in this area as a career have access to the training they need to be successful,” said Coell. “By expanding education opportunities in the residential care field we are we are ensuring excellent health services are available to all British Columbians.”
The 213 new seats will be split among eight post-secondary institutions across the province. Sixteen of the seats have been reserved for Aboriginal students, as part of the ministry’s commitment to increase participation by this group in career-related education programs.
“Increasing spaces to train additional care workers supports the Province’s commitment to building 5,000 net new beds and units for seniors by the end of 2008,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “More health-care workers in a home support capacity or residential care facility will help meet the needs of our increasing senior population.”
The Province is also increasing financial support by $6.8 million for students enrolled in residential care aide and home support worker programs through a two-year pilot project that will extend eligibility for loan reduction. The student loan reduction program is usually only available to students enrolled in post-secondary education programs of two years or more. Care worker programs are typically less than two years.
“On average, students in the residential health-care field owe $4,000 in B.C. student loans. We’re reducing these loans by $2,500 per student to encourage more people to take this kind of training,” said Coell. “The Ministry of Advanced Education is doing its part to meet the province’s future demand for home support workers.”
Another $492,609 in one-time funding has been provided to five public post-secondary institutions to enhance their residential care worker training programs by revising curriculum, increasing program promotion and covering additional equipment costs.
Since 2001-02, government has added 4,588 new student spaces to health care programs at post-secondary institutions across the province.
-30-
|
|
||
|
contact: |
Communications Manager 250 952-6400 250 812-7977 (cell) |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
