Night school enrollment has flatlined for free high school credit courses such as Math and English that adults typically take to upgrade their skills, leaving School District 43 officials scratching their heads as to the cause.
Only about 375 people have signed up for face to face night school courses in subjects such as English 12, Math 11 and Chemistry 11 and 12 and district principal Sarah Husband said enrollment should be higher given the sluggish economy. "It's a bit light," she said, acknowledging that enrollment for these courses isn't much different from when people had to pay $300 or more for each course.
"The key thing for them, graduated or not, most courses continue to be tuition-free," said Husband.
One explanation for the less-than-stellar enrollment figures could be that people are confused about what courses are free after the province removed some from the tuition-free list.
School District 43 has since posted a notice on its website explaining what courses are available for free and making signing up easier by putting registration online at www.sd43.bc.ca. under Continuing Education.
Courses still available for free for students who are graduated and 19 years of age or older. They are as follows:
All Literacy Foundations Courses
Math 11 and 12 Pre-Calculus & Calculus 12
Biology 11 & 12
Physics 11 & 12
Chemistry 11 & 12
Communications 11, 12 & English 12 & FN English 12
MOM BACK IN CLASS
For Jae Jeon, heading back to class is a way to get back into the work force after eight years raising her daughters, Emily, 6, and Jamie, 4. Jeon was studying to be a mechanical engineer when she followed her husband to his job in Saskatchewan. Now, after years schooling her own daughters in science (they have a YouTube channel Little Princess Science Lab) and leading a Korean mother's group, she's seeking entry into BCIT's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program and needs to retake math, physics and biology.
"I'm trying to go back to school in an area I'm more interested in," said Jeon, who took Math 12 in the summer and is taking Physics 12 this fall. "The material wasn't hard," she said, "But it's challenging when I have two kids at home."
Still the night school courses are perfect because her husband can be home with the kids. The fact that the courses are free is a bonus. "I was very happy to be back at school and being a student again, it's very refreshing," Jeon said.
REGISTRATION ON NOW
Classes are starting this week but registration will be taken until the second week of classes and registration is ongoing for online classes.
High school credit courses not available under B.C.'s Education Guarantee will cost graduated adults $500 to enroll.
Husband said the free offerings are ideal for just-graduated students who need a higher mark in a subject to gain entry into their preferred college or university and for older adults who need to re-take or upgrade their academics to change careers.
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