New B.C. premier John Horgan made one of his first major announcements last week, stating his government will eliminate tuition fees on adult basic education (ABE) and English language learning (ELL) programs.
Speaking from Camosun College in Victoria, Horgan believes this will open the door for tens of thousands of people looking to upgrade their education and skill levels.
鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to making it easier for British Columbians to get ahead,鈥� said Horgan. 鈥淏y eliminating these fees, we鈥檙e tearing down the roadblocks to the basic education and skills people need to improve their lives.鈥�
The College of New Caledonia (CNC), which offers an ABE program in 亚洲天堂 Lake, says this was a step in the right direction.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to be able to offer ABE and ELL [in Prince George] programs tuition-free starting Sept. 1, 2017,鈥� said Jay Notay, CNC鈥檚 executive vice president of academic, applied research and students. 鈥淲e鈥檙e aware that about three quarters of CNC students go on to complete another program at the college after completing ABE courses, and this doesn鈥檛 account for those programs they enrol in at other institutions, so we鈥檙e pleased to be able to support their learning and success.鈥�
This decision reverses action taken by the B.C. Liberals in 2015 that imposed tuition fees up to $1600 per semester of full-time studies for adult learners, which saw enrolment in these programs drop by almost 35 per cent - including in 亚洲天堂 Lake - between the 2013/14 and 2016/17 school years.
Chad Thompson, CNC鈥檚 School of University Studies and Career Access dean, said CNC is prepared to accommodate any increase in applicants as a result of this announcement.
鈥淎nd for those who have registered and already paid the tuition, the college will refund those eligible,鈥� he added.
As for how much the elimination of tuition will end up costing the province, those figures will come out in the budget update next month. The B.C. NDP also say they will reduce the interest on student loans.
鈥淲e鈥檙e actually going to reduce the cost of borrowing for student loans to zero, interest free, as well as a completion grant for those who have finished their education,鈥� said Horgan.
鈥淲e want to give incentives to people that have built up a large student debt over the course of their studies. We want to ensure they鈥檙e motivated to complete so we can knock $1000 off the total cost of borrowing over their education period, and that will also be outlined in the September budget.鈥�
- With files from Ragnar Haagen
