ESL courses now tuition-free

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release   2012AVED0016-000423    April 5,  2012

Ministry of Advanced Education

ESL courses now tuition-free

VANCOUVER– Canadian citizens can now take English as a Second Language coursestuition-free at 17 public post-secondary institutions throughout BritishColumbia.

Englishas a Second Language (ESL) programs provide language instruction at basic,intermediate and advanced levels to people whose first language is not English.

Underthe Canada-B.C. Immigration Agreement, ESL courses are being providedtuition-free to new immigrants, such as permanent residents. As well as ESLin the 17 public post-secondary institutions, this includes WelcomeBC’s EnglishLanguage Services for Adults (ELSA) program in communities throughout theprovince.

TheProvince is extending this tuition-free policy to Canadian citizens at publicpost-secondary institutions, ensuring that they have access to the sameopportunities as recent immigrants.

The Ministry of Advanced Educationwill also continue to provide financial assistance to ESL students with ademonstrated financial need under its Adult Basic Education Student AssistanceProgram (ABESAP) to help with associated fees, books, transportation, childcare and other costs.

Quotes:

NaomiYamamoto, Minister of Advanced Education –

“We want to make sure allBritish Columbianshave the adult education opportunities they need to find jobs, raise families,participate in their communities and fulfil their dreams.”

“Thisinvestment will help Canadian citizens and Canadian-born residents whose firstlanguage is not English improve their English language skills in order to moveon to higher levels of education, skills and trades training and employment.”

TanisSawkins, faculty member in the professional and career English department atVancouver Community College (VCC) –

“Creating tuition-free ESL for Canadian citizensremoves a potential barrier on their pathway to success, because the soonersomeone whose first language is not English can improve their language skills,the sooner they can become full participants in the community and inemployment.”

QuickFacts:

·        Government-fundedESL courses are offered at the following public post-secondary institutions: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Camosun College, Capilano University,College of New Caledonia, College of the Rockies, Douglas College, KwantlenPolytechnic University, Langara College, North Island College, NorthwestCommunity College, Northern Lights College, Okanagan College, Selkirk College,Thompson Rivers University, University of the Fraser Valley, VancouverCommunity College, Vancouver Island University.

·        Forthe 2010-11 academic year, these 17 public-post secondary institutionsdelivered ESL training for more than 8,800 domestic students.

·        Theaverage full-time ESL domestic tuition was $2,300 at B.C.’s publicpost-secondary institutions in 2010-11.

·        The2010 Developmental Student Outcomes Survey found that:

o   82 per cent ofrespondents said their ESL courses were very helpful or helpful to them inachieving their most important goal for enrolling;

o   91 per cent of those whotook further education said they had been very well or somewhat prepared forthe studies they enrolled in after leaving their ESL courses.

LearnMore:

Forinformation on ESL services in British Columbia:

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/esl/welcome.htm

Tofind out about WelcomeBC programs including English Language Services forAdults (ELSA) for new immigrants: http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/immigration/settle/learn/index.page?WT.svl=LeftNav

Tolearn more about adult learning programs in British Columbia: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/adultlearning/welcome.htm

Contact:

Joanne  Whittier    Communications  Manager    Ministry  of Advanced Education    250  952-6400

Connectwith the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect