2005 News Releases
| September 8, 2005 |  |
New program will help new Albertans improve literacy
Government funds pilot project as a bridge to adult learning
Calgary... Improving the literacy skills of new Albertans will be the focus of a program beginning this fall at Bow Valley College. While attending an International Literacy Day event in Calgary on September 8, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Dave Hancock announced that nearly $300,000 will be provided for the Bridge Program at the college.
"This program will help young Alberta immigrants make the transition from a high school setting to an adult learning environment, supporting them during this change. It will encourage them to continue their learning and keep improving their literacy skills. They are an important part of our future," said Hancock.
The two-year pilot project is designed for new Albertans, age 17 to 25, with limited formal schooling who read English at a Grade 1 to 6 level. Instructors will work with the students during their final year of high school, then continue this work at Bow Valley College during the second year of the program. The program will be run in cooperation with the Calgary Catholic School Board.
"Bow Valley College is committed to supporting immigrants along their path to further education or into the workplace. We appreciate Alberta Advanced Education and Technology's support of the new Bridge Program and its goal of helping young Albertans along that path," said Sharon Carry, President and CEO, Bow Valley College.
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology provides $4.4 million annually to community-based literacy programs, including 73 volunteer tutor adult literacy programs and 49 family literacy programs. In addition, the province provides Community Adult Learning Councils $6 million each year to help address adult learning needs including adult literacy.
More information about literacy programs is provided on the Advanced Education and Technology website at http://www.advancededucation.gov.ab.ca/other/.
