December ESL update

Government policy changes mean VCC will be able to keep offering some ESL programs.

On December 4, 2014, Minister of Education Peter Fassbender announced policy changes regarding delivery of adult upgrading and ESL courses through B.C. post-secondary institutions. As a result of the announcement, Vancouver Community College (VCC) will now be able to charge tuition for ESL programming.

Following the ministry’s announcement, VCC is working out the logistics of the programming that may now be able to run in 2015.

“We welcome this announcement,” says VCC President, Dr. Peter Nunoda. “It will allow us to retain some of our faculty and staff to provide much needed higher-level ESL programming in January 2015."

In May of this year, as a result of funding changes, VCC announced it was suspending ESL services effective mid-December 2014. Due to the service reduction, layoff notices were sent to 85 faculty and staff.

VCC will issue a further statement to staff and the public next week with further details about which programs will now continue.