EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Commitment 2.5.4 – We will promote and improve student financial assistance to support NWT youth in developing the skills and abilities to meet their potential as well as territorial labour demand.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is leading the GNWT’s work to implement the Skills 4 Success 10-Year Strategic Framework (S4S) and 4-Year Action Plan 2016-2020 (milestone 2) to help develop the skills, knowledge and talents of the people of the NWT. The S4S is an evidence-based initiative about making system wide improvements to adult and post-secondary education and skills training programs to close education and employment gaps in the NWT.

The Skills 4 Success Framework will ensure that the education and training system keeps pace with the changing dynamics of the labour market so that NWT residents, students and workers gain the skills required in a 21st century economy and labour market.

Although Skills 4 Success is a GNWT led initiative, it relies strongly on the active participation and engagement of governments and organizations, education and training partners, industry, business and non-government stakeholders.

ECE is researching options to encourage students to pursue in-demand jobs through the Student Financial Assistance Program and is committed to fostering lifelong learning, training and employability by offering one of the best Student Financial Assistance programs in the country.

Changes have been made to the Student Financial Assistance program to support the GNWT population growth objective, to make obtaining a post-secondary education more affordable and to encourage NWT youth to return home after the successful completion of their studies.

Since September 1, 2016 students who have resided in the NWT for a year since ending full-time studies qualify to apply for the Northern Bonus. This benefit is $2,000 per eligible year up to a lifetime maximum of $10,000 and extends to southern students who reside in the NWT.

ECE launched a national advertising campaign in 2016 to communicate program improvements aimed at bringing our students home to apply their skills (milestone 1). A secondary aim is the recruitment of new residents in support of the GNWT population growth objectives.

On September 1, 2015, the following enhancements were made to the SFA program:

• Increased the Basic Grant funding for tuition and books;
• Increased loan remission (forgiveness) rates;
• Reduced interest to 0% for students residing in the NWT; and
• Removed the 20 semester funding limit and re-introduced the revolving loan limit to support continuing students.

Related Mandate Commitments:

Commitment 1.1.5 - We will get more 18-24 year olds into the labour market by removing barriers to employment, using a better mix of improved educational attainment and skill development, while matching skills with employer needs through improved career development supports.