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Order to cease comes as surprise to hort school founder

Patricia Hanbidge, founder and lead horticulturist with the Saskatoon School of Horticulture has issued a response to Wednesday’s release by The Ministry of Advanced Education that it will not be renewing the registration of the school and directing
Patricia Hanbidge
Patricia Hanbidge

Patricia Hanbidge, founder and lead horticulturist with the Saskatoon School of Horticulture has issued a response to Wednesday’s release by The Ministry of Advanced Education that it will not be renewing the registration of the school and directing it to cease operation.

Hanbidge says, “The Saskatoon School of Horticulture just received a press release by the Ministry of Advanced Education that their license has been removed to offer education and training to students in the field of horticulture. We understand they have sent this release to many stations on the same day that we received their letter. We adamantly disagree with this decision and will be taking further steps to refute this decision as it does not reflect in any way the value of the education at this post secondary college.

“The Saskatoon School of Horticulture has been in existence since 2005. We are supported by our student body, our graduates, the employers who hire our students and have done for many years, and the very diverse horticulture industry. We are confused as to why the Ministry of Advanced Education who is obviously acting on alleged and erroneous information, has chosen to act in a litigious versus collaborative and respectful manner. Our business is education and we take pride in the opportunity to grow the next crop of horticulturists to help evolve the horticultural industry in Saskatchewan.

“The private post-secondary sector has been reduced by over 50 per cent in the last five years in the province of Saskatchewan when it is growing elsewhere. We have been working to help the sector grow and this is apparently not what the Ministry is interested in seeing happen. This is yet again another effort to discredit the quality and diversity of education that is quickly disappearing in our province.”

Wednesday, the Ministry of Advanced Education stated in a news release that it has not renewed the registration of the Saskatoon School of Horticulture Inc. for 2019-20 and has directed the school to cease operation as a Category I school in Saskatchewan.

The release said, “The school has demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance with The Private Vocational Schools Regulation Act, 1995 and The Private Vocational Schools Regulations, 2014.  The Ministry of Advanced Education regulates private vocational schools so that students are protected and the public may have confidence that students are trained by an institution that: is financially stable; offers quality curriculum and instruction; and prepares students for the workforce in an environment that supports their success. Non-renewal of the Certificate of Registration prevents the school from accepting new students into registered programs and prevents students from applying for student loans.”

It concluded by stating, “The ministry will be contacting affected students and will make every effort to minimize the impact on students.”