Thousands of ESL students in B.C. are facing uncertainty as public postsecondary schools struggle to avoid course cancellations and instructor layoffs next year in the face of government funding cuts.
Two years ago, the Conservatives announced they would axe an immigration agreement with the B.C. government. Under the agreement, which expired in April, the federal government committed $22-million in annual funding administered through the province for ESL programs.
The B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education has pledged about $17-million in one-time funding this school year to move institutions into a model where it says Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would regulate ESL programs as part of settlement services.
Karen Shortt, president of the VCC’s faculty association, said it’s up to the B.C. government to pick up the cost of ESL education as other provinces have. “It’s quite a shock,” she said. “It’s going to be huge across this economy when all these people are stalled and not able to get any jobs because this province won’t do what they’re mandated to do, which is train adults.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle20295740/
Because the federal government scrapped the investor class and skill Labour class immigration programs. No foreign currency coming in from those programs anymore, resulting in job loss for local teachers.
Two years ago, the Conservatives announced they would axe an immigration agreement with the B.C. government. Under the agreement, which expired in April, the federal government committed $22-million in annual funding administered through the province for ESL programs.
The B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education has pledged about $17-million in one-time funding this school year to move institutions into a model where it says Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would regulate ESL programs as part of settlement services.
Karen Shortt, president of the VCC’s faculty association, said it’s up to the B.C. government to pick up the cost of ESL education as other provinces have. “It’s quite a shock,” she said. “It’s going to be huge across this economy when all these people are stalled and not able to get any jobs because this province won’t do what they’re mandated to do, which is train adults.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle20295740/
Because the federal government scrapped the investor class and skill Labour class immigration programs. No foreign currency coming in from those programs anymore, resulting in job loss for local teachers.