The Conservative Education Critic says the N.D.P. government is failing Manitobans when it comes to education. Cliff Cullen is reacting to a recent report placing Manitoba with the second highest drop out rate in Canada with 11.4%, just behind Quebec. He says as a province, Manitoba wants to be competitive in the long term and if it can't provide adequate education, it takes potential opportunities away from Manitobans. Cullen doesn't believe proposed legislation by the N.D.P. to raise the drop out age from 16 to 18 will solve any concerns.

 

 

Cullen adds this is an opportunity to take a look at what other provinces in Canada are doing to combat drop out numbers, noting clearly other provinces recognized there are a number of kids potentially at risk of dropping out of school. He says first of all we need to recognize there is an issue then recognize what kids are potentially at risk, Cullen adds programs then need to be developed and monitored to mentor those particular students. He notes not everyone is suited to the same curriculum in high school and says there is opportunity to develop other programs that keep kids interested in education.
 
Meanwhile, a Program for International Student Assessment was released in late 2010 that shows Manitoba students have also fallen behind in areas such as literacy, science and math.