Education is critical if B.C. is to have a competitive economy where jobs are available for local residents and employers don’t have to go offshore for skilled workers.
Thankfully, it appears the new NDP government is recognizing this fact by restoring free tuition for adults seeking to upgrade their education.
In an announcement Tuesday, Premier John Horgan re-introduced free tuition for adult basic education and English as a second language courses, removing an important barrier to post-secondary education.
This means that even graduated adults can upgrade their math and other academic courses, and newcomers can upgrade their English language skills without paying hundreds of dollars in tuition fees, thus enhancing their education opportunities and, ultimately, their participation in a growing economy.
According to figures released by the NDP prior to the election, the initiative could cost $7 million a year, although the exact cost to taxpayers won’t be released until the September budget.
Still, this is good news for students applying for programs beginning this fall.
The restoration of free tuition announced yesterday applies to some courses at colleges, including Douglas College, and those offered through School District 43. (It should be noted that students who have not graduated and graduated students under the age of 19 have always been able to take high school course for free, and that policy will continue).
When it comes to higher learning, making courses more accessible and reducing economic barriers is not a new idea. As recently as 2008, the provincial government under the BC Liberals made high school courses free for graduated adults as part of its Education Guarantee. In 2012, however, the number of tuition-free courses was reduced and, in 2015, free tuition was eliminated altogether for adults who had graduated but wanted to upgrade. The result was a rush of applicants to SD43’s programs — and, likely, some education hopes dashed once the tuition support was removed.
Will this restoration end the current skills shortage for B.C. employers? Not on its own, but it’s a good first step.
