Adult Basic Education

The BC Adult Graduation Diploma at Castlegar, Grand Forks, Kaslo, Nakusp, Silver King, Nelson, Trail

Admission Requirements

Admission to Adult Basic Education courses is open to anyone who meets the following requirements:

• Fully Qualified Students must be 19 years of age or over at the time of registration and must be considered by the instructor to be capable of succeeding in college courses.
• Partially Qualified Students under 19 years of age must have the written recommendation of a secondary school principal and the instructor must be satisfied that students can perform in an adult environment.

Notes:

• All applicants will file a Selkirk College application form.
• Be interviewed and given placement tests before being registered.
• Admission may be restricted by space limitations. Please check with the instructors at each ABE Centre to determine availability.

Evening Upgrading

Most centres provide some evening class hours.

Course Levels

ABE Fundamental

These courses are designed to help adults with upgrading to the end of Grade 9. Students work on independent programs and may choose the subject area and hours per week of class. Instruction is available in reading, writing, spelling, science, computer skills and mathematics.

ABE Intermediate

The courses at this level help adults upgrade to Grade 10 equivalence. Instruction is available in English, Mathematics, sciences, computer studies and social studies. Students may choose to take some or all of the subjects.

ABE Advanced

At this level, the courses are roughly equivalent to the Grade 11 level. Completing this level fulfils the requirements for entry to many trades and other college programs. Mathematics, sciences, computer studies and English courses are available in most centres.

ABE Provincial

At this level, the Ministry of Advanced Education, grants a formal, provincially recognized certificate which is the equivalent, for adults, of high school graduation. Courses at this level in mathematics, sciences, social studies, and English are available in most centres. Students may elect to take one or more courses, or work toward certification.

The BC Adult Graduation Diploma:

“The Adult Dogwood”

To be eligible to graduate from this program, adult students (19 years of age or over) must earn at least 20 credits in the secondary system or complete five courses in the post-secondary system. Courses and credits can be counted from either or both of the following areas:

Notes

1. To be eligible for the Adult Graduation Diploma, a person must be 19 years or older. An 18-year-old who has been out of school for at least a year may be admitted to an adult program with approval from the enrolling institution.
2. Three courses must be completed through enrollment in a course or Prior Learning Assessment after enrolling in an adult program. Prior Learning Assessment may be used to meet any of the requirements for the Adult Diploma. Prior Learning Assessment involves a variety of techniques including equivalency reviews, challenges processes and in-depth interviews.
3. In the secondary system, provincial exams are optional for students in an adult program. If the student chooses not to write a provincial exam, the grade will be reported with a “Q” code. It should be noted that some post-secondary institutions may not accept examinable courses for admission purposes unless the secondary system provincial exam has been written. Any course that is authorized by either the Ministry of Education (4 credits) or the Ministry of Advanced Education as requirements for graduation may be used towards the BC Adult Graduation Diploma.