Teisemearitiee Seetica DEPT. OF PROVINCIAL SECRETARY Pmednao 6,6 Monitcata ROOM 137— PHONE WH 6-7439 LEGISLATIVE BUILDING February 14, 196,-. P.40G.G I N8PEG M NIT BASIC oKli,LS PROGRAM DRAWS NEAR TO TARGET Hon. George Johnson, M.D., minister of education, reports that som,, 725 students are enrolled in 38 prevocational upgrading classes located in l. centres throughout the province. Approximately 290 students are enrolled in 14 classes in the Metro Winnipeg area, along with more than 430 students in classes in centres outsii,, of the provincial capital. The program, which is sponsored jointly by the federal and pr,:vincil governments, is designed ultimately to give students the equivalent of a grad( 10 standing in Business English, Mathematics and Science. These are the basic pre-requisites for trade training, and are the first stage in a program aimed at placing current unemployed persons in skilled jobs. The new allowance supported program was launched in January and is in- tended to reach some 1,000 students in 70 classes throughout the province. Dr. Johnson said that seven classes have been established at Brandon, and four each are underway at Flin Flon and Portage la Prairie. Two classes have been set up at St. Malo, and single classes hav, been established at The Pas, Dauphin, Neepawa, Plum Coulee, Winnipegosis and 3t. Pierre. Dr. Johnson stressed that candidates for the classes must be registerud with an Nltional Employment Service office and must lo,J classified as unemployed. The minister said that students taking the classes receive living allowances and, where necessary, transportation assistance. No tuition fees are charged for th.: program, which also provides students with free use of textbooks. - 30- .