On October 8, the College of the Rockies Board of Governors approved new tuition fees for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and domestic English as a Second Language (ESL).

Adult upgrading courses have been tuition free in B.C. since 2008. Now students will pay approximately $300 for a semesterized ABE course, $450 for a directed study ABE course, and $800 for an ESL course.

“While I understand the board’s fiduciary responsibility of managing the college’s finances, I am also deeply troubled by yet another shift of financial burden to students. Students already face many financial hurdles when they make the decision to return to school,” stated Leslie Molnar, President of the College’s Faculty Association.

Affordable access to public institutions has a significant implication for the growth and success of our province. “The Ministry of Advanced Education recently wrote that 78% of new job openings will require post-secondary education,” said Molnar. “A funding cut with the potential to limit access to needed upgrading courses is not the way to enable British Columbians to participate in the education they need for those skilled job requirements.”

The College of the Rockies has been offering Adult Basic Education (ABE) throughout the region since it opened in 1975. Although some of the courses are offered in a distance format, most are held on a campus, in a face-to-face, supportive environment. The faculty is qualified to teach adults with diverse learning needs and are skilled in curriculum development. Adult students who face multiple barriers to basic education have access to individualized learning, faculty support, and the college’s learner support system. Adult basic education is so important, it is actually listed as one of the ‘Objects of a College’ in the College and Institute Act (Section 6).

Recent government funding cuts to the education sector have been significant. Last year, there was $22 million cut provincially from English Language Training for domestic students. This year, it is the $6.9 million specifically used to keep Adult Basic Education programs tuition free. The government also cut Adult Education funding for the K-12 sector by $9 million. At the same time, the government posted a $900 million surplus for the fiscal year ending March 31.

The government counters that students who can’t afford the tuition can apply for the new Adult Upgrading grant. However, the grant application form is eight pages long or must be completed online, a significant challenge for many. Receiving the grant money could affect other income assistance eligibility, the applicant’s income must be below $23,647 for a single person, and, if the student takes more time to complete a course than what is allotted, they may not be eligible for future funding.

The government alleges charging tuition will make ABE programs more sustainable. How is that possible when students may have to drop out because they can’t afford to attend?

Vancouver Community College started charging tuition in January of 2015 and student numbers are already so reduced that 43 Adult Education faculty members have received advanced layoff notices. Other institutions that have begun charging tuition have noticed a marked change in the demographic of the classrooms.

The most vulnerable students, the injured or laid off older worker, Aboriginal students, single parents, and people with low literacy skills – these Canadians are being denied access to the education they need. From someone trying to take Biology 12 so they can enter a Care Aide program, to someone who needs Math 12 to get into an IT course, accessible adult education can make all the difference for those looking to advance their career goals.

Faculty at COTR understand that Adult Education is a building block. It opens the doors to better jobs and to further education.

“As educators, our greatest concern is our students – how we can help them to grow and thrive, and to work towards their goals,” said Molnar. “We believe strongly in the value of public education, and as such, are deeply concerned by what appears to be a growing trend of declining accessibility and affordability of our public institutions.”

College of the Rockies Faculty Association

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