Adult Education Programs

Adult Education Grads 2007

• For information:
  phone: (250)376-0903 or (250)828-9779 (message)
  fax: (250)376-2133
  e-mail: naep@ocis.net
  or by mail: c/o Secwepemc Cultural Education Society
  #311-355 Yellowhead Hwy
  Kamloops BC V2H 1H1

Background

The SCES Adult Education Programs grew out of concerns expressed by education co-ordinators that:

• First Nations students were experiencing difficulties making the transition from high school to post-secondary education because:
  • they lacked the entrance requirements;
  • they experienced culture shock in moving from a smaller insular community to a large city; and,
  • they did not have emotional or academic support mechanisms in place;
• First Nations students lacked the knowledge to map their education in order to complete their certificate, diploma or degree programs; and
• First Nations students were not learning about their language, culture and history.

Because of these concerns, the following programs were designed to meet the needs of adults who wanted to enter the workforce or who were seeking entry into university, trades or technology programs:

• College Prep.;
• Interior Native University, College Entrance Program (INUCEP);
• First Nations Access to University, Trades & Technology (FNAUTT);
• Native Adult Basic Education (NABE);
• Secwepemc Adult General Education I (SAGE I);
• Secwepemc Adult General Education II (SAGE II);
• Secwepemc Adult Fundamental Education (SAFE); and
• Basic Job Readiness Training (BJRT).

Objectives:
The Adult Education Program objectives are:

1. To promote and preserve the Secwepemc language, history and culture (by incorporating into curriculum where possible).
2. To promote and support students in building self-esteem, self-respect, and self-confidence (by providing lifeskills).
3. To prepare students for success (by providing tutoring academic counselling, & career planning).
4. To encourage students to be active members of their communities (by planning/participating in community events).

Student Eligibility and Admission Requirements

Screening and placement strategies are important to ensuring student success. Therefore, the following requirements are used by the Adult Education Department:

Applicants must be:

• 19 years or older (some exceptions may apply with consultation);
• out of school for at least two years or a recent graduate seeking specific prerequisites;
• committed to full-time attendance; and
• prepared to write the Canadian Achievement Test (CAT/2).

*Prior to acceptance, applicants will be referred to either their Bands or Aboriginal Employment Services to seek funding.

Programs

After writing the CAT/2 test, the applicant is placed in one of two programs based on the results of his/her test.

Secwepemc Adult General Education (SAGE)

This program is for those applicants who score between grades ten and eleven and do not have a Dogwood Certificate. This is a two year program with students working for ten months each year on the following;

1st Year (September to June)

• Composition 11
• Math 040/050
• Social Studies 11
• EDCP
• Secwepemc Language

2nd Year (September to June)

• Communications 12
• Math 050/051
• 3 grade 12 electives
• Secwepemc Language

* Secwepemc Language may be taken in either the first or second year. Upon completion of this program students will receive their Adult Dogwood Certificate.

Class size is limited to 15 students.

First Nations Access to University, Trades and Technology (FNAUTT)

This program is for those applicants who have completed grade 12 and have been out of school for two or more years or who scored between grades 11 and 12 on the CAT/2. The students in this program work for eight months (September to April) on the following:

Fall Semester (September to December)

• English 050
• Math 040/050
• Science 050
• First Nations Language 050
• Social Science 060

Winter Semester (January to April)

• English 060
• Math 050/051
• Biology 062
• First Nations Language 060
• Native Studies 060

* Class size is limited to 12 students.

Spring Semester (May to June)

• English 060
• Math 050/051

* Class size is limited to 8 students.

SCES Adult Education also offers a summer semester for students needing to upgrade skills in English and Math before entry into college/university in the Fall.

Staffing

• Four Instructors (two full-time, two part-time)
• One Counsellor/Instructor(part-time)
• One Teacher's Aide/Tutor (fulltime)