Cam Fortems – Kamloops This Week
Thompson Rivers University will once again offer free tuition for adult basic education after Premier John Horgan fulfilled a campaign promise to eliminate the costs for students.
“The action we’re taking today gives hope and help to people throughout the province and is a long-term investment in B.C.’s economy,” Horgan said in a statement.
Former premier Gordon Campbell first brought in free tuition for adult upgrading in 2007 but seven years later former Christy Clark cut that program, replacing it with grants for low-income students.
TRU last offered free tuition for adult upgrading courses in 2013.
“For some reason at Thompson Rivers we stayed fairly steady,” said Jane Horton, who heads the program. “Enrolment had been decreasing with no tuition.”
The NDP government said schools were allowed to charge up to $1,600 for each semester of full-time studies. It reported enrolment provincewide dropped almost 35 per cent from 2013-2014 over the next three years.
Students use courses to upgrade for university programs or to complete their Grade 12 diploma.
Horton believes demand for adult basic education is driven by economics, with more students when the economy is soft and fewer when work is available.
There is currently space in most of its programs.
“We’re definitely flexible and will expand to whatever we need to,” Horton said.