College prepares for 'revolution' in adult basic education in territory

WHITEHORSE- A revolution is about to begin for adults who want to improve their education in the territory.

The announcement of new adult basic education funding by the federal government- $27 million over five years, distributed across the three northern territories- will allow for vastly expanded programs tailored to help hundreds of people better their lives and their job opportunities.

“We’re really excited about this,” says Shelagh Rowles, the acting Vice-President, Academic at Yukon College. “There has been pent-up demand for years. We are ready to explore how we deliver adult basic education and rethink how we support people who want to improve their education.”

The College will be receiving a portion of Ottawa’s new Northern Adult Basic Education Program funds- announced this morning by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Iqaluit- to launch new upgrading programs across the territory.

The NABE program will improve access to basic skills upgrades, so working-age adults are better positioned to participate in the labour market. By helping working-age adults to either enter the workforce directly, or take vocational training, the program will ensure that more Northerners can benefit from local employment opportunities.

College President Karen Barnes says the College has been working closely with First Nations governments to identify need, develop curriculum and expand how education programs are delivered to adults, many of whom live in Yukon’s rural communities.

“We are thrilled to be working with our First Nations partners, consulting and developing programs that will be delivered to the communities in an efficient, accessible manner,” she says.

Shelagh Rowles says the College will be rebuilding the whole spectrum of its adult basic education, from assessing a person’s current knowledge and skill level, developing comprehensive case management systems, improving college prep courses, working with communities to match labour demand with training, and incorporating life skills training to help people be successful.

“It’s really a revolution- this is about changing how we do, and what we do,” she says. “This opportunity- to redesign our programs and delivery in Adult Basic Education, in co-operation with our First Nations government partners- allows us to identify needs and address them community by community. These funds allow us the resources to do this. It’s truly very exciting.”

Staff still has to be hired to implement the new programs, but there are already courses beginning in some communities that are benefitting from the new funding. The rebuilt system will become more apparent in the fall, says Rowles.

The federal funding will be distributed based on each territory’s adult basic education needs, and calculated according to each territory’s share of working age Northerners lacking Grade 12 education. Those final numbers have to be determined, but the impact will be significant.