Victoria (BC) /CMEDIA: Access to reportedly free adult literacy programs would be provided in more communities in British Columbia (BC) help to improve basic writing, reading, math and digital skills, and unlock new opportunities for people to help build a stronger, more resilient workforce.
An annual investment of $3.4 million by BC would not only support the Community Adult Literacy Program but also plays an essential role in providing basic literacy to adults, families and Indigenous communities to gain life skills, secure better jobs, access further education and more actively participate in their communities.
Funded on a two-year cycle, the 2025-26Community Adult Literacy Program supports the first year of the 2025-27 funding cycle while the 2025-26 program year runs from Sept. 1, 2025, until Aug. 31, 2026.
96 literacy programs delivered by 67 providers in 204 B.C. communities would be supported by the 2025-26 Community Adult Literacy Program, a 55% increase from 132 communities in 2024-25.
These literacy programs offer one-on-one tutoring, small group sessions and drop-in services, and may be delivered in-person or online to meet the diverse needs of adult learners.
As a key part of the Province’s commitment to making post-secondary education more affordable and accessible, the Community Adult Literacy Program plays an important role in developing a skilled workforce to support and strengthen BC’s growing economy and positions BC as a leader in the new and emerging economy.
From 2017-18 to 2023-24, the program served almost 32,000 people as follows:
19.0% identified as Indigenous;
69.8% identified as female and 28.4% as male;
39.0% were employed, 35.4% unemployed and 16.5% retired; and
45.7% had previously completed some post-secondary education or skill training.
Since 2020-21, almost 37,000 people have accessed literacy support on a drop-in basis.
For more details about the Community Adult Literacy Program (scroll to bottom), visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/adult-education/adult-upgrading
For a list of the 2025-26 Community Adult Literacy Program funding recipients, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/CALP_Recipients_2025-26.pdf
