PM MEETS WATERLOO: Prime Minister Kim Campbell brought her
campaign-style tour to the University of Waterloo Monday a
few hours after saying in a major speech that Canada's
education system doesn't measure up.

In her speech, Campbell had words of praise for UW, saying
the university's "excellence is based on both the quality of
its teaching and the quality of the partnership that exists
between that institution and the private sector."

She told the Confederation Club in Kitchener that the
problems of performance facing the education system can't be
solved by government  alone. "This is much more than a
matter for governments," Campbell said in her text.

"It is an issue for schools, parents, for the private
sector, for unions. We won't address the challenge by
standing apart, as governments, or as a society. We can
solve it by moving forward together."

She then went on to cite UW as a shining example among
several in Canada of an institution joining forces with
groups in society to deal with the education challenge.

At a news conference, Campbell said that Canadians have to
understand that a sea-change has occurred in the economy.
"Most jobs that are being created require a minimum of 12 to
17 years of education - so you have to finish school," she
said. "If we can change the way people think about training,
we can do a lot."

At UW, about 650 people gathering inside and outside the
Davis Centre greeted the prime minister enthusiastically as
she did a walkout much like a reigning monarch. She viewed
research displays as well as experimental cars designed by
engineering students.

Aside from meeting senior UW officials, including president
James Downey, Campbell tirelessly signed autographs for both
adults and youngsters - the latter brought in from the
Engineering Science Quest and Arts Computer day camps held
on campus. After the walkout, which lasted nearly 45
minutes, Campbell held a closed-door, round-table discussion
with co-op and graduate students.

One student attending that discussion was Catherine Coleman,
president of the UW Federation of Students. She said later
that students "did their best to enlighten" the prime
minister about the co-op program. "She was a very attentive
listener and she asked a lot of questions."

In her speech, Campbell announced a series of initiatives to
improve learning in a rapidly changing society, including
commitments to donate the federal government's old computer
systems and software to schools as well as expand a computer
network linking schools.

For post-secondary education, the prime minister promised a
reform of the Canada Student Loans program. "Speaking simply
as a former student, I know that I could not have gone on to
university without a student loan."

But the current program, largely unchanged since 1964, is
not working well enough, Campbell said, adding that the cost
of living has risen by 30 per cent in the last five years
while the amount students can borrow has not changed.

She promised that full-time students will be able to borrow
$5,100 each academic year, up from $3,500, and part-time
students $4,000, up from $2,500. "We will provide deferred
grants and interest relief to those students most in need,"
she said.

The current federal loans program, the prime minister
stressed, costs "hundreds of millions of dollars through
inefficiency and defaulted loans - money that does not go
into the pockets of students." She said changes will be made
to cut costs and "allow successful pursuit of defaulters."

Also, Campbell said the government plans a new education tax
credit that increases the deduction for full-time study (the
current one provides $80
a month) and extends the tax credit to part-time students.

Finally, she targetted the "chronic and severe" under-
representation of women in university doctoral programs,
especially in the areas of science, mathematics and
engineering. Campbell promised unspecified action to deal
with the problem.

Earlier, at the news conference, Campbell said that no new
money will be spent on her education measures. "There will
be a re-allocation of current spending. There will be no hit
on the deficit."


John Morris, UW News Bureau
Information and Public Affairs
(519) 885-1211, ext. 6047
jmorris@mc1adm.uwaterloo.ca