According to the 2014-15 Budget, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment, and Labour has a total budget of $668.9 million for post-secondary institution operating grants and targeted funding. Spending plans include the following:
$82 million for the Graduate Retention Program, which will provide tuition rebates of up to $20,000 for post-secondary graduates from Saskatchewan who stay in the province for seven years after graduation.
$488.7 million for Saskatchewan's universities, federated and affiliated colleges.
$151.9 million for technical institutes
$28.3 million in operating and program funding for regional colleges.
$37.4 million for other ongoing provincial tax credits related to educational costs and interests paid on student loans.
The 2014-15 budget also extends to student funding:
$32.5 million in student aid fund.
$31 million for the Provincial Training Allowance.
$7.5 million for the Saskatchewan's Advantage Scholarship.
$5 million for the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship.
The government continues to invest in the training of doctors and nurses and that includes:
$14.3 million for the final year of the Registered Nurse seat expansion to 690 seats.
$13.7 million to continue the implementation of 100 new medical undergraduate seats.
$10.4 million to continue the implementation of 120 new medical residency seats.
$360,000 in funding to increase the number of nurse practitioner training spaces by 5.
$578,000 in new funding to double the number of ongoing Perioperative Nursing training seats at SaskPolyTech from 18 to 36.
The budget of 2014-15 provides $189.1 million includes more support for Aboriginal students and training programs.
$6 million to double funding for Joint Task Force Initiatives, First Nations organization and human services providers and funding to help expand Help Me Tell My Story to on and off reserve schools.
$49 million for funding of First Nations and Metis institution and initiatives.
According to CAUT, over the period 1993-1994 to 2004-2005, only British Columbia (2%) and Saskatchewan (24%) increased provincial funding to post-secondary education. In 2005, tuition represented 29% of University Operating Revenue in Saskatchewan, with 60.6% of operating revenue coming from (presumably both provincial and federal) government.
Student Funding
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour oversees a number of programs to assist current and potential students. A selection is listed below.
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (ABE) is an umbrella term that refers to a wide range of services, credit, and non-credit programs designed to help adult learners achieve their goals.
Credit Transfer (CT)
Credit Transfer (CT) is defined as the process by which credit is granted towards a credential by one institution for programs or courses previously completed at a recognized institution.
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD)
The EAPD Program provides funding to assist adults with disabilities to prepare for, secure and maintain employment.
Employment Programs (including SaskJobs and SaskNetWork)
These programs can help individuals transition into and within the workforce.
General Educational Development (GED)
The GED Tests measure the academic skills and knowledge expected of high school graduates. Recognized throughout North America, the GED Testing Program has served as a bridge to education and employment. The GED Tests provide a reliable vehicle through which adults can certify that they possess the major and lasting outcomes of a traditional high school education.
Graduate Retention Program
The Graduate Retention Program (GRP) is a refundable income tax credit to rebate up to $20,000 of tuition fees paid by eligible graduates. This initiative replaces the previous Graduate Tax Exemption beginning January 1, 2008.
Graduate Tax Benefit Programs
From 2000-2007, the Government of Saskatchewan had two previous graduate tax benefit programs for graduates from post-secondary programs.
Innovation and Science Fund
The Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) will provide funding to Saskatchewan universities, colleges and research institutes to support projects.
Institutional Quick Response Training (Quick Skills) JobStart/Future Skills links training to employment. The program provides a range of skills training solutions for Saskatchewan people.
JobStart/Future Skills
JobStart/Future Skills Program - Quick Skills option provides funds to public training institutions to train the unemployed to meet industry requirements for skilled workers. Training should lead to ongoing permanent employment. The program also provides access to credit training in rural and northern Saskatchewan.
Joint Task Force - Aboriginal Education and Employment
An agreement with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) was signed on May 17, 2011, to establish a joint task force on aboriginal education and employment, to consult on and identify practical, grass-roots solutions for eliminating current gaps in education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Métis people in Saskatchewan.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a systematic process that assesses and recognizes an individual's knowledge and skills regardless of where or how the learning was acquired.
Provincial Training Allowance (PTA)
The Provincial Training Allowance (PTA) is grant funding to assist with the costs of living for low income adult students enrolled in basic education and bridging programs. In addition, the PTA provides assistance for Quick Skills Training of four to eleven weeks for programs not funded by student loans.
Qualification Recognition (QR)
Qualification Recognition (QR) practices involve the fair, credible, and standardized assessment of credentials to assist employers, educational institutions and professional regulatory bodies in making informed decisions.
Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL) is a broad umbrella concept which values all learning that people have gained in their lives.
Skills Training Benefit (STB)
The objective of the Skills Training Benefit program is to assist clients who are EI eligible to return to the labour market as quickly as possible and to improve their employability.
Student Employment Experience
The Student Employment Experience (SEE) program is a year-round funding program for Saskatchewan employers to hire students.
Student Loans
The Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loans Program offers a needs based supplement to your existing resources to help you fund your education.
Student/Participant Placement Injury
Procedures in the event of a Student/Participant Injury on a Work-based Learning Placement or Work Placement.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW)
The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour is working in partnership with the Federal government to deliver a two-year initiative to help older workers be reintegrated into the workforce.
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)
Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions and the ministry work together through the provincial TEL Action Plan to extend access to education and skills training and enrich learning by adapting technology-based tools, teaching methods and resources to meet the diverse needs of learners, both on- and off-campus.
Interprovincial Health Training Agreement (IHTA)
Saskatchewan has interprovincial agreements with post-secondary institutions in other provinces to reserve seats in specific health discipline programs for Saskatchewan students. Programs offer training in health disciplines that are critical to the labour market in Saskatchewan.