Selkirk College has secured a $587,827 top-up for its free Adult Basic Education and English Language pathway programs.
The Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning pathways program was launched by the province in 2022. It’s a free program that allows the college to create a supported and tailored pathway with supports to fill high-demand careers in the region, explained Allison Alder, Dean of Selkirk’s School of Academic Upgrading and Development.
“Sometimes that can look like a little bit of extra funding to get the Wi-Fi connection that they need. It could look like some supplies, such as basic school supplies, technology supplies, or even supplies for when they get into their program, like scrubs if they’re going into healthcare aide.”
She added that it aims to remove the barriers and challenges that could prevent someone from pursuing post-secondary education or prevent them from completing a program.
“Those kinds of supports are intended to help somebody who’s already motivated stay with the program on the pathway to get into the post-secondary program that will get them the credential and the training that they need for the high-demand career.”
Selkirk has had the program in place for three years now. For the 2024/25 school year, the pathways program is focusing on careers in Environment and Geomatics, Healthcare, Human Services, and STEAM.
However, it’s not limited to just those programs, with Alder adding that the college would happily talk to someone with a career interest outside of those pathways.
Eighty students have utilized the pathways program since it was introduced in 2021. It’s offered at all six of Selkirk’s campuses, which include Nelson, Grand Forks, Castlegar, Trail, Kaslo, and Nakusp. It has a target of enrolling 90 students through the program with this years funding.
With the provincial funding, Alder said the college will be able to adapt curriculum’s so they are tailored specifically to the pathways and to allow the college to offer more sections of courses required for entry into high-demand career programs.
It will also be used to connect students with each other, instructors, and professionals in the fields they wish to pursue, and to provide extra support for transportation, childcare, and study skills as needed.
More information on the pathways program can be found here.
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