Image: A file image of a group of adults in a classroom./ Ammentorp / Dreamstime

By Dana Lajeunesse, MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Increasing access to community adult literacy programs across the Fraser Valley

Aug 13, 2025 | 10:00 AM

In communities across British Columbia, local literacy programs have been quietly changing adult learners’ lives for decades. The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills supports a network of community organizations, Indigenous-led groups, and post-secondary institutions that deliver adult, family, and Indigenous literacy programming. This is part of our longstanding investment in skills training that empowers community members to participate fully in our growing economy.

These programs are tailored to meet the needs of adult learners aged 19 and older, including Indigenous people, immigrants, and persons with disabilities. Whether it’s helping someone read a job application, understand a prescription label, or building the skills to read to their children, adult literacy is making lives better for people and families.

For the 2025/26 cycle, organizations across the Fraser Valley will be delivering this program, including Agassiz-Harrison Community Services, Archway Community Services, Chilliwack Community Services, Chilliwack Learning Society, Langley School District Foundation (with Kwantlen Polytechnic University), and Mission Literacy in Motion.

These programs are delivered in familiar settings like libraries, friendship centres, and community halls, by people who understand the local context. This community-based approach prioritizes trust and accessibility, especially for learners who may feel intimidated by formal education systems. It also allows for flexible delivery: one-on-one tutoring, small group sessions, and online learning options that accommodate busy lives and diverse learning styles.

The Community Adult Literacy Program is just one aspect of B.C.’s broader adult education system, which includes tuition-free Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning programs at 18 public post-secondary institutions and through school districts. These programs help adults upgrade for work, pursue high school graduation, or prepare for post-secondary studies. Financial support like the Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG) ensures that cost isn’t a barrier for low-income learners.

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If you or someone you know would benefit from adult literacy classes, please visit decoda.ca to find literacy classes in your community.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.