NB 659
May 25, 2006
FREDERICTON (CNB) - A new scholarship program to increase incentives for students to enter non-traditional training programs was announced today by Minister responsible for the Status of Women Joan MacAlpine-Stiles and Jody Carr, minister of post-secondary education and training. Up to $150,000 in scholarships will be awarded this year to students enrolled in the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) system.
"As the Wage Gap Action Plan was developed, it became clear that job clustering of women was a significant factor contributing to the wage gap," MacAlpine-Stiles said. "Nearly half of all New Brunswick women work in only 10 occupations. The scholarship program will help ensure that students explore a wider variety of career options, and will re-orient, retrain and increase skills for women already in the labour force. Initiatives such as this will not only close the wage gap, but also address New Brunswick's labour shortages."
Students accepted for the fall semester into the first year of an eligible program of study are encouraged to apply whether they are continuing their education or re-entering the school system as mature students. Scholarships will be awarded regardless of any other financial assistance applicants may have obtained.
The scholarships were developed to encourage students to seek careers in trades, technology, and other sectors where their participation to date has been limited. All students choosing to enrol in programs non-traditional to their gender and where participation has been limited are eligible to apply.
"Improving access to training programs, especially in non-traditional areas, is key to ensure that government reaches the first goal of the Five in Five Initiative for having the highest increase in workers with post-secondary education in Canada within five years," Carr said. "This is one more example of how government is improving access to the community-college network so students can gain the necessary skills they need to be successful in the workforce."
Each scholarship will have a maximum value of $2,600, which is equal to the value of full tuition for one year at NBCC. To apply, students must complete an application form and provide a brief essay indicating their career interests. Applications are available online at the NBCC website. A panel from the Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training will evaluate all applications.
In addition to the scholarships, the Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training and the Executive Council Office-Women's Issues Branch recently hired two mentors to work in the college system. The mentors will provide guidance to students seeking non-traditional careers, and speak on their behalf with the colleges, as well as promoting the scholarship program.
06/05/25
MEDIA CONTACT: Danielle McFarlane, communications, Executive Council Office-Women's Issues Branch, 506-444-4454; Shawn Hearn, communications, Post-Secondary Education and Training, 506-453-2568.
06/05/25