Operating grants for universities and technical schools in Saskatchewan will be held at their current levels in the 2019-2020 budget. In all, the Ministry of Advanced Education is allocating $728 million dollars for post-secondary institutions.

The regional colleges, including Southeast College here in Weyburn, will receive $29 million in operating and capital grants. Over $22 million was also set aside for capital repairs and maintenance for all post-secondary schools.

The University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, along with their federated colleges, are receiving $469 million. Another $152 million is for Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and the Gabriel Dumont Institute.

The government also took steps with the budget to help post-secondary students out, with $26 million for the student loan program, in the form of repayable and non-repayable financial assistance. There are also grants of up to $4,000 in combined federal and provincial money for students.

There will be changes to the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship program. It will be converted to a needs-based scholarship.

The Graduate Retention Program is remaining in place, with up to $20,000 in income tax credits for graduates who live and work in Saskatchewan.

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