$6 MILLION TO IMPROVE LITERACY PROGRAMS ACROSS B.C.

VICTORIA – The Province is expanding its literacy strategy to continue to support school districts in B.C. and to reach rural, remote and Aboriginal communities with new programs, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.

“As we celebrate International Literacy Day, I’m confident this additional funding will help ensure that literacy programming continues to move forward in every part of the province,” Bond said. “Our goal is to provide rural and remote communities with the same learning opportunities as those in larger urban centres.”

The Province has granted $2 million to 2010 Legacies Now to fund literacy co-ordination in all 60 B.C. school districts. The new funding will enhance co-ordination within each region and support school districts as they work with their communities on district literacy planning. This funding builds on a previous investment of $1.6 million to fund regional literacy co-ordinators at 16 public post-secondary institutions to enhance the co-ordination and delivery of adult literacy programs.

The Province is also investing $2.4 million in 70 community adult literacy programs that will offer free tutoring for adults wanting to upgrade their education or strengthen their literacy skills. The community adult literacy program is being delivered through post-secondary institutions across the province.

“This funding will help B.C. build a seamless adult education system,” said Advanced Education and Labour Market Development Minister Murray Coell. “Access to education will be designed and co-ordinated to benefit British Columbians of all ages and abilities in all communities.”

Additional investments will support literacy programs for Aboriginal families. The B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres is receiving $1.2 million to support the implementation of Aboriginal family literacy programs in Friendship Centres across the province. Another $110,000 will fund an Imagination Library book program for Aboriginal children living in 30 rural and remote B.C. communities. The Province is working with Invest in Kids in partnership with the Dollywood Foundation of Canada, the First Nations Education Steering Committee and Métis Nation BC to provide a free, age-appropriate book each month to children enrolled in the program from birth up to their fifth birthday.

“The funding for Aboriginal family literacy programs will be able to better reach many children and adults in our communities,” said Grace Neilsen, president of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. “Improving literacy is a goal of our organization and we welcome this opportunity to work with the Province to improve the lives or our clients and their success in work and life.”

“Improving literacy for Aboriginal learners is a key objective of this government and part of our commitment to help close the social and economic gaps between Aboriginal people and other British Columbians,” said Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong. “These initiatives will help build capacity and bring the joy of reading to Aboriginal communities across British Columbia.”

Further tools to promote literacy include Reading for Families, a new DVD developed by the Ministry to support parents and caregivers of children aged birth to eight years. The DVD will be distributed through public libraries, elementary schools, StrongStart BC centres, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Literacy Now and Literacy BC, as well as made available on the ReadNow BC website.

“Making British Columbia one of the most literate jurisdictions in North America is one of this government’s Great Goals”, said Bond. “By funding literacy projects in all areas of the province, as well as encouraging lifelong learning by ensuring those projects are available to all citizens, B.C. is well on its way to meeting that goal.”

Since 2001, government has invested more than $140 million in new literacy initiatives, including pre-literacy and early learning programs such as $9.5 million to operate the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the ActNow Literacy Education Activity and Play (LEAP BC) program that encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.

-30-


Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.