Camosun College is among nine public post-secondary institutions getting additional cash in the 2014-15 school year to support English as a Second Language programs.
An additional $6.7 million complements the $10.5 million announced last month of one-time transitional funding to help institutions impacted by the federal government’s decision to change administration of ESL programs for immigrants effective April 1. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will continue to fund English language programming through agreements with service delivery organizations such as not-for-profit agencies and some post-secondary institutions.
On Feb. 19 the provincial government announced Camosun College was among 17 institutions awarded transition funding for the ESL changes. Camosun was allotted $1.43 million of one-time funding for planning and changes needed to transition the language programs to a new model where immigrant settlement services are directly administered by the federal government.
At any given time, 200 to 300 recent newcomers to Victoria receive English as a second language training at Camosun, often for free. The college found out last December that $1.3 million worth of federal funding allocated for domestic ESL training wouldn't be renewed this month.
reporter@saanichnews.com