Vancouver Island College’s Roberta Jenkins describes herself as a horrible scholar. “I wrestle with motivation, get bored shortly, have hassle finishing assignments on time and infrequently have hassle understanding course content material with out numerous time or numerous assist to course of it.”
Regardless of her struggles, Jenkins has spent most of her profession in schooling. As a result of she confronted challenges in her profession path, she understands the boundaries some college students face. When VIU started planning a program to assist college students overcome boundaries, she jumped on the probability to become involved. She is now the Program Coordinator for Pathways to Put up-secondary, a free program for grownup learners who may benefit from additional assist getting pre-requisites for post-secondary applications.
“Pathways represents a turning level in grownup schooling, a reimagining of what the training expertise can and must be,” Jenkins says.
Pathways helps college students who need to enrol in skilled applications in three areas: well being care, early childhood schooling and science and expertise. To use for Pathways, college students have to be enrolled in an grownup primary schooling (ABE) or English as a second language (ESL) course. Additionally they have to be a Canadian citizen, everlasting resident, or refugee.
When college students enter the Pathways program, they’re assigned a Pathways Coordinator like Jenkins. The coordinator works with the scholar to place collectively an schooling plan that features the pre-requisites they should get into this system they need to attend. These pre-requisite programs can be tailor-made for his or her chosen profession path. For instance, if they’re planning to take the Early Childhood Training program and they should improve their English 12, their coursework will characteristic vocabulary they’ll use as an Early Childhood Educator.
“This isn’t your conventional ‘upgrading’ program, these are actual expertise for actual jobs, proper from the beginning. The personalized curriculum that connects on to particular careers is a game-changer. College students will instantly see the good thing about what they’re learning to the place they need to go.”
College students can be positioned in studying pods with friends on an analogous profession path, making a peer assist community. College students will even be launched to school in this system they plan to attend.
“Many college students wrestle with the transition from ABE to post-secondary applications, the place they might really feel nameless or invisible,” Jenkins says. “Assembly school earlier than shifting into these applications helps college students really feel seen and perceive that they’re already valued members of the group. This provides them the arrogance to hit the bottom working.”
College students will obtain free helps by way of Pathways alongside each step of their schooling journey, from getting the pre-requisites they want till commencement.
Pathways obtained $551,500 in funding from the BC Ministry of Superior Training and Abilities Coaching, as a result of this system will assist college students achieve areas the place there’s a want for expert staff. This consists of jobs in nursing, well being care help, dental hygiene, early childhood schooling, engineering, internet and cell improvement, and pc science.
Pathways is presently accepting functions for September, and Jenkins is raring to work with college students.
“Everybody has the capability to study and to succeed. If I can play a small half in making that simpler for Pathways college students, then this system has been efficient. I’m so excited to be a part of this revolutionary program, particularly to have the privilege to stroll alongside college students as they pursue their goals.
For extra details about Pathways, e mail Roberta Jenkins at [email protected].
Grownup EducationEducationPost-secondary Training