More than 80 B.C. communities will now be able to break barriers for adults that struggle in basic everyday skills.
The provincial government unveiled a $2.4 million investment today (Sept. 9) for its Community Adult Literacy Programming (CALP), which will distribute up to $30,000 each, via local post-secondary schools, to close to 100 programs.
In the case for Prince George, and through the College of New Caledonia (CNC), the Native Friendship is the lone local facility to be part of the announcement by Advanced Education Minister Melanie Mark.
“We know that it’s critically important for people to have literacy and numeracy skills to complete simple daily tasks like cooking, attending medical appointments and applying for work,” she said in a statement. “I applaud these community organizations that are the unsung heroes that open doors and create pathways for all British Columbians.”
According to the province, 52 per cent of adults in B.C. have a hard time accomplishing daily living tasks because they lack the numeracy skills associated with math, while 45 per cent struggle with reading and writing.
Through CALP, programming includes one-on-one tutoring, small group discussion and instruction, and is supportive of all literacy levels.
CNC is set to help with the following north-central area programs in addition to the Prince George Native Friendship Centre:
- Literacy Support McLeod Lake - McLeod Lake Indian Band (Mackenzie)
- Literacy Support - AiMHi (Mackenzie)
- Indigenous Adult Literacy Program - Literacy Quesnel Society
- Adults Building Literacy and Education - Literacy Quesnel Society
- McBride Community Literacy Outreach Program - Robson Valley Community Services
- McBride Indigenous Learning Literacy Program - Robson Valley Community Services
- Valemount Community Lit Outreach Program - Robson Valley Community Services
- Valemount Indigenous Learning Literacy Program - Robson Valley Community Services
- Family Literacy in Valemount - Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
- Valemount Community Adult Literacy Program - Valemount Learning Society
In August 2017, the B.C. government made adult upgrading and English language learning programs tuition-free.
