High school graduates in the Interlake may soon be able to enroll in post-secondary classes without leaving home. The Selkirk Learning Centre is hoping to offer courses from the University of North Dakota as early as fall 2001.

Campbell Alexander, general manager of the Selkirk Learning Centre, says he was tired of watching high school grads leave the Interlake area to continue their educations.

"We offer great education in Winnipeg, but if you come here for anywhere from a year to four or five years, you get established in the community," said Alexander. "Then you're not going to want to come back to Selkirk, you're not going to come back to Gimli, Stonewall, Riverton, or Arborg."

"We lose out on some very talented, educated professionals, and the economy suffers as a result," said Alexander.

Aerospace, nursing, speech therapy programs considered

Alexander says he did try to get Manitoban post-secondary institutions interested in offering courses in Selkirk, but he didn't have much luck. But the University of North Dakota expressed interest.

The Selkirk Learning Centre is negotiating with UND to offer courses in aviation and aerospace, speech therapy and a program for registered nurses to upgrade to a bachelor of nursing degree.

Alexander says the schools are still discussing which country's currency would be used for tuition.

He says he hopes the school will offer some trial UND courses in Selkirk in the fall of 2001.