By Peter Ewart

On February 13, the BC Ministry of Advanced Education announced that eighteen public post-secondary institutions, including the College of New Caledonia, will be receiving a total of $6.9 million of one-time funding for Adult Basic Education (ABE).  

Late last year, the Ministry made the unexpected and controversial announcement that there would be major cuts to ABE base funding in the province, resulting in students, many of whom are low income, now having to pay as much as $1600 per semester or $530 per course.  These courses were formerly tuition-free (see previous series of articles on this issue here).

The $6.9 million funding announcement may allow post-secondary institutions to delay or at least mitigate for one year (if they choose to do so) tuition fees which many have been considering imposing.  According to the Ministry, this delay will give these institutions “an opportunity to plan changes that would be needed if they decide to move to a tuition-free model.”

So why has this happened?  There are several likely reasons.  Very importantly – after the ABE cuts were announced on December 4^th, students, faculty and staff got into action across the province, holding public meetings, consulting with MLAs, writing letters to the editor, and other activities.  All of this had a definite impact.

Many British Columbians have themselves taken the initiative to enrol in ABE upgrading courses in the past or their children or relatives have.  In addition, employers reap the benefits of having better trained and educated staff.  As a result, there is a broad consensus that the tuition-free ABE program is a good thing.  So why change it, many ask.  The message to the government?  Reward initiative.  Don’t penalize or discourage it.

Another reason for the delay may simply be the fundamental incoherence of the December 4^th cuts and resulting tuition fee hikes.  The provincial government has promised to provide “a clear and seamless” path from high school through to the workplace.  This is especially important with the looming skills gap and skills mismatch that organizations like the Conference Board of Canada say will require major upgrading programs.

It should also be noted that ABE upgrading is a key component of the K-12 education system which is public and tuition-free, and is a distinguishing feature of the modern Canadian nation.

Dramatically jacking up ABE tuition fees for low income and marginalized populations, including single moms, aboriginal peoples, immigrants and individuals with learning difficulties, is not providing a “clear path” for these students, but rather throwing a major roadblock in their way.  With more upgrading, students and employees have the potential to add substantial new added value to be reaped by employers, the economy and society itself.

While the February 13 announcement of the $6.9 million in ABE funding is to be welcomed and is a small victory, the funding will only last for one year, and it only applies to public post-secondary institutions and not School Districts.

However, this one year reprieve does give students, faculty, teachers, staff, administrators, employers and members of the public, further time to organize, as well as pressure the provincial government to reconsider ABE funding cuts and to re-establish a tuition-free ABE model of public education (at both  the post-secondary and School District levels) that has coherence and will provide a smooth path forward for students.

Peter Ewart is a columnist and writer based in Prince George, British Columbia.  He can be reached at: peter.ewart@shaw.ca