The Continuing Education Centre until 1997

Continuing Education has existed in one form or another in the School District since the 1970s. Day and evening classes were held first at Carihi School, then later moved to the old resource centre behind Phoenix School. In 1991, changes in government rules for people receiving Employment Insurance benefits meant that unemployed people could use their out-of-work time to upgrade. The Centre grew with the addition of two portable classrooms to accommodate these workers. In the Fall of 1996, the storefront literacy program called the Workplace Literacy Centre was launched at 140 St. Ann's Road. In December 1997, the Continuing Education Centre moved to larger, more accessible facilities at 1480 Dogwood Street, the former North Island College site.

Former site of the Literacy Program on St. Ann's Road

In the year 2000, the Continuing Education Department consolidated services in the Dogwood Street location. The Literacy Program began operating from this locale in July of 2000. The Elm Centre also houses the Welfare to Work programs of North Island College, the Upper Island Youth Services of the John Howard Society, the Campbell River Multicultural and Immigrant Services Society, and the Native Language programs of School District #72.

Present location of Continuing Education at the Elm Centre

About Our Services:

• A Grade 12 completion for an adult can be completed with only five courses at the Grade 11 and Grade 12 level.
• Because many resource industry workers left school early, upgrading of skills is often needed before taking Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses.
• Many college programs do not require a complete Grade 12 diploma for entry; rather, each program has a set of specific prerequisites that a student must have to enter. Each program and each college has its own set of entry requirements. Read the college calendar carefully, to know what courses you require.
• At Continuing Education, each student works on an individualized program, starting where each student needs to start, and allowing the student to move at their own speed of learning.
• Students start with an assessment of their current level of skill, so that they can be placed into courses they are ready for. Some people may start at the Basic Skill level, building basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills before entering Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses.
• Students can start as soon as they have received the results of their assessment and have arranged fee payment. You don't have to wait for a September or January term to start.
• Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses are designed to be completed within a four month time period, but students are allowed six months, under certain circumstances.
• Full-time students usually take only two courses at a time and attend 4 to 6 hours per day. A part-time student would usually take only one course at a time.
• Basic Skill level courses are free. Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses cost $40 which is a refundable administration fee for a student who has not completed Grade 12. (If the course is completed within the given time frame, the administration fee will be refunded.) No textbooks need to be bought. Textbooks are loaned with a $50 refundable deposit.
• If you are already a graduate, the Ministry of Education does not fund your course costs. You must pay a course tuition fee of $250 per course.
• Our aim is to facilitate your learning. "Facilitate" means to make easier, to smooth the way. We work with hundreds of students each year who take the big step of returning to school. We will do our part to make your learning experience successful.