BC PSE institutions receive $10.5 million from province for ESL programming

BC has committed $10.5 million in funding to the province’s public PSE institutions to help with the transition of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to a new structure, in which immigrant settlement services will be administered by the federal government. The one-time funding will allow the institutions to provide ESL programming next year while preparing for future arrangements, which will see the federal government provide funding directly to institutions and community organizations. The federal government cancelled the Canada-BC Immigration Agreement, which previously funded ESL programs, late last year. Vancouver Community College, as the largest provider of ESL programming in BC, will receive the bulk of the funding ($4.67 million), with the remainder of the funding split among 16 institutions currently providing ESL services. Vancouver Sun