VISCOUNT, Sask. – Melanie Wagner has a thirst for knowledge, but she doesn’t want to leave her husband, two children and a job in Viscount, Sask. to continue her education in a big city.
Her situation is common throughout rural Western Canada. Many people living outside major centres have family or job responsibilities that prevent them from returning to school.
“I don’t think I would have been able to (return to university full time),” said Wagner.
Instead, she goes to the local high school every Monday to take courses offered through the Saskatchewan Communication Network’s distance education program. She needs the classes to enter the social work program at the University of Regina.
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SCN is a government broadcaster that offers high school classes and courses from the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, and the Sask-atchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology in more than 100 communities.
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From Viscount, Wagner watches a lecture broadcast to SCN students through-out the province. She can phone in questions during the live broadcast, or contact the person who marks her work.
Since there are no other students enrolled in the Viscount classes, Wagner watches the broadcasts alone.
“It’s not quite the same as being where there are other people to discuss things with, but it does have some advantages,” she said.
SCN has also offered an at-home course through University of Saskat-chewan extension services for the past year that broadcasts lectures over the province’s regular SCN cable channel. So far, the program offers only one history course. While anybody with cable can pick up the lecture, only those who register can receive credit.
Viscount Central High School offers 10 courses and while there are only six students registered, principal Brian Dyer said the courses are important because people in the area now have an option.
“In this community it’s important because a lot of people would never go to university to take a class,” he said.
Sheri Spooner of the University of Saskatoon extension agrees. The university has offered SCN courses since 1987. Spooner said there are 375 students enrolled in the four classes offered by the university this year. That’s down about 10 percent from last year.
