Just in time for the new school year, the provincial government announced Tuesday that tuition will once again be free for adults wishing to upgrade their education and for newcomers wishing to improve their English language skills.
At a press conference today at Camosun College in Victoria, Premier John Horgan said his new NDP government would keep its pledge to remove tuition for adult basic education (ABE) and English language learning (ELL) courses taught at colleges and school districts across the province, including Douglas College and School District 43.
But few details were forthcoming on how the program would roll out or whether refunds would be available for people who had already paid for the fall semester.
“Based on the government announcement, it is our understanding that school districts will also offer these courses [ABE and ELL] tuition-free, however we are requesting more details from the ministry on this,” said Peter Chevrier, SD43's communications manager.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training said the policy would come into effect Sept. 1, effectively removing tuition from a number of courses. For example, students taking ABE courses at colleges would no longer have to pay $1,600, their portion of a full-time semester.
“It helps students graduate, it will help students upgrade or it will be prerequisites to higher education,” said Rodney Porter.
The program restores free tuition that was eliminated for graduated adults in 2015.
According to a government press release, the decision to impose tuition fees for ABE and ELL programs cut student enrolment by 35% between 2013/’14 and 2016/’17.
In early 2015, hundreds of graduated adults took academic courses through SD43’s Coquitlam Open Learning program before the deadline imposing $500 fees.
The changes will now make those courses — including popular English, math and biology high school courses — free.
Prior to May's provincial election, the BC NDP said the initiative could cost $7 million a year. But cost estimates of the initiative were not available at press time and are expected to be revealed in September.
