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ABEABC GOVERNMENT LIAISON REPORT
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September 7, 2007:
All Adult Basic Education To Be Tuition – Free in BC
The Province is investing 17.5 million under the second Phase of ReadNow BC to make adult basic education tuition-free and increase financial aid for adult learners.
Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell and Education Minister Shirley Bond announced that the change will be brought about in three stages. Effective Sept. 7, 2007 all students can take courses free of charge through the Province's virtual school, LearnNow BC.
Starting January 2008, all students will also have access to tuition-free adult basic education courses at 18 public post secondary institutions around BC. The third stage will start September 2008 when all students will be able to take free adult basic education courses through school districts.
The Ministry of Advanced Education is also providing more than $17 million over the next three years for grants that help adult basic education students pay for books, supplies, transportation and child care while they study at a public post secondary institution.
October 24, 2007:
Province Hosts Innovative Workplace Literacy Conference
The first conference to be hosted by the province on essential skills will bring together national and international experts along with government, educators, employers, labour and community organizations from all over BC. Nine skills have been identified as essential for individuals, and the organizations they work for keep pace with the changing workforce. They are reading, writing, numeracy, using documents, using computers, oral communication, working with others, continuous learning and thinking skills. BC's booming economy has created unprecedented demand for skilled labour.
September 2007:
Adult Opportunities Action Plan
The Government of British Columbia released an Action Plan in its commitment to making BC the best educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for literacy coordination under the ReadNow provincial Literacy Action Plan and the Ministry of Advanced Education has the lead on adult literacy and lifelong learning in BC working with other government ministries.
Four major objectives have been identified; they are:
- The approach to adult literacy and lifelong learning is coordinated.
- Articulated adult literacy programs across all delivery systems support learner success and provide pathways to higher education and jobs.
- High quality programs support learner's goals.
- Progress is monitored and provides valuable decision-making information.
*Information for the report is provided by the Ministry of Education website and The Ministry of Advanced Education.
In this issue, I've tried to respond to suggestions for Groundwork from ABEABC members: a list of PD opportunities; a lesson plan from NALD; information for our students on a typing tutor program and employment opportunities. I've also included overviews of government initiatives: Read Now BC, Essential Skills, an excerpt from the “2005 Report of Findings from the BC College and Institute Adult Basic Education (ABE) Outcomes Survey” and a link to the newly released “Final Report of the Adult Special Education 2006 Cohort Study.”
Articles from ABEABC members are always welcome: check out Lyra Warkentin's “MAd Edventures” in St. Francis Xavier's Master of Arts in Adult Education program. Nita Jacob has spent an enormous amount of time and energy drafting a letter about ABE teacher certification; I have included her letter, along with her report, in this issue.
ABEABC regional representatives and our government liaison have a somewhat arduous task as they try to gather input from various ministries and constituents. Readers are urged to send input on activities in your area to your regional reps for the next issue of Groundwork in March.
Lately we've had a lot of happy students in our centre; the abolition of tuition fees for ABE students at BC post-secondary institutions has put smiles on many faces. Although school districts must wait until September/08 for free tuition, the reduction in costs will hopefully allow more adults to access ABE programs. The working poor, however, continue to face the conundrum of employment vs. education. Although jobs are plentiful right now, many adults work at low-paid entry-level jobs without job security or benefits. Free tuition is a step in the right direction; increased funding for ABESAP now provides assistance for books, supplies, transportation and child care for students at public post secondary institutions. There is no funding source, however, for food, clothing, and shelter for ABE students. The working poor therefore bear the burden of maintaining employment while attempting to upgrade. Skills Development Canada reports that 40% of Canadians score below the minimum level of literacy required for work place performance, yet these are the folks whose financial situation makes it difficult, if not impossible, to access upgrading. So despite the “hoopla” over free tuition, we still have a long way to go to make ABE truly accessible to all BC adults.
On that note, let me get off my soap box, change my tone, and wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year. You deserve the break!
Ruth Vandenbor