PARTNERSHIPS 98 - STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Released on February 16, 1998

Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Minister Joanne Crofford

today announced Partnerships 98, a Student Summer Employment program.

Partnerships is an annual provincial program aimed at encouraging

employers to hire students. This year it is expected to help create

2,000 summer jobs for Saskatchewan students. The application deadline

is April 1.



"This program is an investment in people, especially our young

people," Crofford said. "The partnership of students, employers and

the government is key to creating summer jobs for students. Employers

need extra help during the summer, students bring fresh ideas and

enthusiasm and government helps bring employers and students together

with financial assistance."



Through the Partnerships program, the Saskatchewan government will

provide a wage subsidy of $1.20 per hour to a maximum of $576 per job

for each student hired. Students must be employed between May 1 and

September 30 to qualify for a grant. Eligible employers include

businesses, farms, municipal governments and non-profit organizations.



Eligible students include full-time, post-secondary students returning

to school in the fall of 1998, or students graduating from Grade 12

this year who intend to enroll in a post-secondary institution in the

fall of 1998. This year the program is more flexible to meet the

needs of high school graduates and post-secondary students.

"This improved program helps to meet a need identified by

students surveyed for the Student Assistance Task Group Report,"

Crofford said. "Increased access to jobs is students' top

preference for ways to finance their education. Partnerships 98

helps students gain valuable work experience during the summer

while earning money to finance their post-secondary education.

By investing in programs like this, we are making a good

investment in our future."



Application forms are available from rural service centres of

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, regional offices of

Saskatchewan Education, Student Employment Offices at the

University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, and

Human Resources Development Centres Canada, as well from the

Partnerships office or web site.



Employers wanting more information may contact the Partnerships

office in Regina directly at 787-9640 or toll-free through the

Career Information Hotline at 1-800-597-8278. The information

and application forms are available on the web site at:

http://www.sasked.gov.ca/P/partnerships



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For more information, contact:



Cindy James

Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training

Regina

Phone:(306)787-9009