The B.C. Ministry of Education, Skills and Training (MOEST) and the National Literacy Secretariat are funding 57 literacy cost-shared projects in B.C. for 1996/97.

The announcement of the $1.4 million funding was made by Moe Sihota, Minister of Education, Skills and Training in a ceremony at Vancouver Community College on September 9.

" The programs made possible by this funding are all helping strengthen literacy skills ... across B.C .... through personalized tutoring, televised programming, participation in reading circles, working with mentally handicapped adults or low-income seniors, or simply sharing resources," said Sihota.

The 57 projects are shared by 15 B.C. community colleges and the Open Learning Agency. Project activities include: development of learning materials, technology and distance education, regional coordination, research, public awareness, workplace literacy, aboriginal literacy, and family literacy.

This year the provincial portion of the cost-shared program includes funding for program delivery. This is a direct response to recommendations made by the B.C. literacy field at a consultation held in October 1995 to re-examine the cost-shared project process. Twenty three projects in 11 regions of B.C. will deliver literacy services to First Nations communities, shoreworkers, and people with learning disabilities, among others.

For information about the cost-shared fund and application procedure, contact:

Audrey Thomas
Coordinator, Adult Literacy Programs
Ministry of Education, Skills, and Training
Second Floor - 838 Fort Street
Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4

Phone: 387-6174
Fax: 356-8851
E-mail: amthomas@galaxy.gov.bc.ca