BC Government backtracks on commitment to literacy programs

BCGEU calls on government to reinstate funding for Regional Literacy Coordinators

The BC Liberal Government is cutting literacy funding, contrary to their election platform's "number one goal, to make BC the best educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent," the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) said today.

On July 9, Janice Nakamura, Executive Director of the Learning Programs Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development wrote in an e-mail that the ministry's Community Adult Literacy Programs (CALP) and Regional Literacy Coordinators (RLC) are "part of the funding review."

On July 16, twenty one regional literacy co-ordinators (RLCs) were informed that their jobs are being cut, only one year after the government created the positions. Eight of the workers are represented by the BCGEU.

"These workers help some of our most marginalized citizens get their lives on track and plan their futures," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker. "Cutting these jobs is short-sighted, and will negatively impact those who most need training to weather the current economic challenges. We call on the government to immediately reinstate funding for these positions."

Last year the government created these university and college-based positions as a response to recommendations from the BC Auditor General, who identified the need for better coordination of the government's literacy goals. Then-Minister of Advanced Education, Murray Coell, stated that the regional literacy coordinators "will help to lay the foundation for implementation of workplace literacy and essential skills initiatives" across the province.

"According to the ministry's representative, funding for the Community Adult Literacy Programs (CALPs) is also under review. Will it be the next to be cut?," said Walker. "How does the government hope to accomplish its literacy goals by cutting jobs and programs specifically designed to improve literacy? It just doesn't make sense."

In contrast to the BC Liberal government's approach, other Canadian jurisdictions have increased funding for literacy. The Alberta government increased funding for libraries by 39 per cent in their April 2009 budget.

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For more information contact Chris Bradshaw at 640-291-9611