Protest today over major cuts to ESL programs in B.C.

WATCH (above): The BC Teachers strike may be over, but the fight over cuts to ESL funding is just beginning. Kylie Stanton has the story.

A protest is being held outside the Legislature in Victoria today over major cuts to ESL programs.

Students and staff from Vancouver Community College are calling on the provincial government to continue funding the popular program.

College officials say classes are full and there’s also a wait list to get in.

Karen Shortt, of the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association, says there are 2,300 students who are midway through their studies but will no longer have a class to go to as of December 17.

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“For the provincial government to cut this funding off is just wrong, and creates all sorts of societal problems including unemployment and underemployment,” says Shortt.

She says staff at Vancouver Community College are also facing layoffs due to the program being cut. Shortt says that despite having a year to come up with a solution, nothing has been proposed by the provincial government.

“You can’t afford to not fund ESL,” says Shortt. “There’s a skill shortage in B.C., people who have moved here and made a commitment to this province, and all they need is some English language training.”