British Columbia

In British Columbia, adult basic education policy that was developed in the late 1970s¹²² allowed for a development of substantial programming through community colleges, and for some exemplary infrastructural work, especially in curriculum development and program articulation. The period of government budget restraint beginning in 1983 weakened the traditional community orientation of the colleges, and weakened literacy programs — both "outreach" programs in community or remote settings, and literacy programs generally, with their relatively high cost per student contact hour. Subsequently college literacy programming seen recurrent expansions, and recurrent cuts and threats of cuts. All fifteen colleges now offer some literacy programming, and at least six include volunteer tutoring programs. Arrangements in colleges vary widely throughout the province. Some colleges have long seen literacy as central to their mandate and have provided consistent support. Others view it as a peripheral concern, and provide little or no support.

The involvement of School Districts (under the Ministry of Education) in "upgrading" programs increased in the late 1980s, with the sense that colleges were not meeting needs. School boards operate learning centres, tutoring programs and some classes. Although fewer than one third of school districts (20) offer programmes — there is a heavy concentration of programmes in the lower mainland and southern Vancouver Island — the majority of the provincial population is covered by school district programming. However, there is no clear assignment of responsibility for issues of adult literacy programming, curriculum and assessment within the Ministry of Education. A changed funding formula for ABE in school districts¹²³ has been expected to support some increase in programming. Grants are based on the fiscal framework used for all education funding, and are now not capped. School districts and colleges are expected to co-operate in identifying and serving local needs.

Since 1986, a number of community Project Literacy organizations have formed in municipalities around the province. These are ordinarily incorporated as societies, involve members of a variety of educational and other agencies, and operate or plan to operate volunteer programs. They have little or no access to ongoing funding. They are organized under the umbrella of a provincial coalition, Literacy BC.