Funding to be discontinued for northern Sask. post-secondary program

Funding for a northern Saskatchewanpost-secondary institution is being discontinued, potentially changing the way education for teachers in the province's northis delivered.

The Northern Teacher Education Programsaid in a release dated Aug. 19, that Saskatchewan's minister of advanced education has informed themfunding will be discontinued after July 31, 2017.

"Transformational change is expected to minimize perceived duplication and result in administrative changes," the release from the La Ronge, Sask., based organizationsaid.

Jennifer Malmsten, vice president of administration at NORTEP,said the next steps for the organization would be determined after NORTEP meets with the provincial government on Aug. 29. She said funding for students would remain intact.

The organization, however, is intending to continue operating and will be looking for ways to keep operating under its current model and under northern control.

The news comes less than a year after the Saskatchewan government announced that it was renewing NORTEP'sfunding for five years.

Malmsten said students will be notified of the funding situation on Tuesday.

NORTEP, and its counterpart, the Northern Professional Access College, have been in existence for 40 years. It offers students access to a four-year education degree as well as a bachelor of arts degree in Indigenous studies.

In a statement to CBC News, Advanced EducationDeputy Minister Louise Greenberg said the consolidation of programming in La Ronge will eliminate an overlap in programming and ensure training and financial supports are equitable for northerners.

Students will continue receiving university-level training in La Ronge that meets the needs of northern Saskatchewan, the province said.

La Ronge, Sask., is about 340 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.