Free community programs advance adult literacy
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Sixty-four community based literacy programs will help B.C. adults upgrade their education and enhance their basic skills so they can make the most of their potential and careers, announced Moira Stilwell, Minister for Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
“Literate people create strong communities and strong communities build a strong province,” Stilwell said. “The thousands of people helped through this year’s programs alone will have the skills they need to be better workers, and better citizens.”
Government has committed $2.4 million this year to support community adult literacy programs. The 64 programs being funded through the Province’s Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP) will be delivered through partnerships between community groups and B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions.
“Literacy is more than words, it is the key to personal success and the fabric that knits communities together,” said Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. “Supporting literacy and lifelong learning is vitally important work.”
CALP programs receive up to $40,000 each to provide instruction and support to adult learners in everything from basic literacy to high school completion. Most offer one-on-one tutoring by trained volunteers, small group classes and other types of learning tailored to adults, Aboriginal people, young parents and people living in poverty.
CALP programs are offered in a variety of settings – schools, non-profit organizations, native friendship and community centres, mostly run by volunteers. Programs focus on the individual goals of learners such as improving their literacy skills in order to enhance the quality of their lives, improve their employment opportunities, and increase their involvement in their families and communities.
This year’s Community Adult Literacy Program is expected to benefit close to 7,000 British Columbians. Since 2001, government has invested $15.9 million in CALP, helping more than 70,000 adults learn how to read or improve their reading, writing and numeracy skills.
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