Date Issued: 01/10/1999
Purpose
Education Leave is a "Partnership in Learning"; a mutually beneficial learning opportunity agreed upon between the employee and the employer. Education Leave provides the opportunity for government employees to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities in areas identified by the department as critical existing or future needs as identified in the department's Strategic, Human Resource or Employment Equity Plans.
Policy
The Government of Saskatchewan supports
- Giving priority for applications which support the government's commitment to achieving employment equity;
- Giving special consideration to employees from rural and northern geographic locations where it is more difficult to recruit to these areas;
- Promoting the provision of a range of educational opportunities for all employees to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities in areas identified as critical existing or future needs.
The authority for approval will be the responsibility of the permanent head supervising the employee. The approval will be based on the guiding principles of the program to a maximum of one calendar year. The applicant must reapply for approval for a subsequent education leave.
Departments will determine the calculation of allowance on the principle that education leave is of mutual benefit to the employee and employer. The department's permanent head will have the discretion to provide a range of support from 0% to 80%.
The calculation of the allowance may include salary during absence, tuition, all registration related expenses, books, travel and examination fees. Books mean all related reference materials including books, course specific software and any other required course-related resources.
Employees receiving an allowance do not qualify for any adjustment in the amount of their allowance based on annual increments, negotiated salary adjustments, or other changes to their education leave, except where otherwise provided by the collective agreement.
Education leave applicants are not eligible to receive additional support under the Tuition and Book Education Allowance Program.
Process
The Public Service Commission
Will maintain responsibility for policy and regulation development, maintenance of service wide statistics and monitoring of program activity to ensure that the spirit of the policy is maintained.
Government Department and Agencies
May establish departmental committees to review education leave applications. The authority for approval of education leave applications resides with the department's permanent head supervising the employee.
Establishing departmental procedures for implementation of the Education Leave Program which includes:
- Identifying the department's critical existing or future needs as identified in department's Strategic, Human Resource and Employment Equity Plans;
- Reviewing all applications submitted;
- Revising, rejecting or approving all applications;
- Informing all applicants of decisions;
- Ensuring that applicants are aware of the conditions outlined in the Education Leave Program Policy and the Education Leave Agreement; (PDF)
- Obtaining the bank prime interest rate to be entered on the Education Leave Agreement by calling the Investment and Liability Branch, Finance at 787-3905;
- Preparing a signed Education Leave Application, Education Leave Agreement and Promissory Note and forwarding copies to the employee and to the Management Development Centre, Public Service Commission. These forms will be placed on the employee's personal file at the Public Service Commission;
- To support the maintenance of corporate statistics, the department:
a) At the time of approval, immediately enters the data onto the education allowance detail screen in I.P.S;
b) Upon payment to the employee, immediately completes the reconciliation process on I.P.S. and checks off the Corporate Report Received box. - Preparing personnel action form HRS 111;
- Monitoring and managing all service commitments.
Guidelines
The following are guidelines which may be used when identifying department's critical existing or future needs:
- What are the issues, pressures facing your department?
- What existing or future skill requirements are needed to address these issues, pressures
- What knowledge, skills and abilities do your potential education leave candidates currently have?
- What knowledge, skills and abilities will the potential candidates acquire upon completion of the education leave?
- Will the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired by the potential candidates upon completion of education leave assistance address the issues and pressures facing your organization?
- Will the employment equity candidates' participation be consistent with the government's employment equity goals and the goals of the education leave policy?
Promissory Note and Return of Service Agreement
An employee who is granted an education leave, shall enter into a Return of Service Agreement which is equal to two times the amount of leave; for example, two months of service for one month of leave. An employee who is granted an education leave, shall sign a Promissory Note, agreeing to repay the Government of Saskatchewan for any outstanding amount of the education allowance or for any pro-rata portion of the service obligation not fulfilled. The applicant is required to successfully complete the course of study.
Application
The Education Leave Policy applies to all employees subject to The Public Service Act, 1998.
Authority
The Public Service Regulations, 1999, Part V, Sections 75 and 76
Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact the Human Resource Service Centre.