B.C. Premier John Horgan made one of his first major announcements from SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Camosun College on Tuesday, stating his government will eliminate tuition fees on adult basic education and English language learning programs.
The announcement reverses action taken by the B.C. Liberals in 2015, which allowed education institutions to charge up to $1,600 per semester for full-time studies for adult learners. In turn, enrolment dropped by almost 35 per cent between the 2013-14 and 2016-17 school years.
Adult students whoB次元官网网址檝e prepaid for basic education and English language courses for September will be refunded, Horgan said.
B次元官网网址淣ew Canadians who want a head start improving their language skills, students getting ready for university, adult learners going back to school to upgrade their skills to improve their opportunities or just getting a high school diploma, adult basic education should be free for everyone, it should be a right,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.
The cost to make basic education free again will be included in SeptemberB次元官网网址檚 budget.
The premier also confirmed NDPB次元官网网址檚 plan to end interest on student loans in B.C.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e actually going to reduce the [interest on] borrowing for student loans to zero, interest free, as well as a completion grant for those who have finished their education,B次元官网网址� said Horgan.
The grant will create an incentive to those whoB次元官网网址檝e built up a large student debt during studies, to knock off as much as $1,000 from their balance when they finish, he added.
Both announcements are welcome news for the B.C. Federation of Students which has been pressing years for these changes.
B次元官网网址淎dults who want to go back to [high school] shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be charged for that,B次元官网网址� said Simka Marshall, a Camosun grad whoB次元官网网址檚 now the chairperson for the B.C. Federation of Students. B次元官网网址淭his is something weB次元官网网址檝e been campaigning for, weB次元官网网址檝e had 23 municipalities endorse our campaign calling for free adult education so this is a really welcome change.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址淥ur province canB次元官网网址檛 afford to lose students who are keen to learn or advance their skills training in the post-secondary sector because of financial barriers,B次元官网网址� said Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 proud weB次元官网网址檙e taking this action to expand opportunities for ABE and ELL students to thrive in the workforce and achieve academic success.B次元官网网址�
Horgan also spoke to softwood lumber deal with the U.S. and to Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Andrew WeaverB次元官网网址檚 disapproval of HorganB次元官网网址檚 upcoming golf tournament in Victoria that costs $500 per entry.
B次元官网网址淚 have spoken to [Weaver about it],B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a closed event, and anyway the cost largely goes to paying the green fees. [Fleming] and I have hosted this for a decade, itB次元官网网址檚 not secret, itB次元官网网址檚 not cash-for-access, anyone can join.B次元官网网址�
- With files from Travis Paterson
