The Manitoba government has announced it will be investing $221,000 in funding grants for Adult Learning Centres (ALC), such as the Portage Learning & Literacy Centre.

Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Jon Reyes made the announcement. ALCs in the province support a diverse group of adult learners, teaching them the necessary skills to either join the workforce or attend post-secondary education. The learners sometimes include Indigenous, Francophone, and newcomer learners.

"The pandemic continues to impact how Manitobans of all ages learn and this funding will enable technology and equipment updates that are necessary to support the increased need for remote learning," says Reyes. "These investments will ensure adult learners have access to literacy supports, which have been shown to help entire families read and engage in other literacy-related activities as a family."

He notes the need for technology that can support online and blended learning has skyrocketed with the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will allow them to invest in such technology, such as software and computers.

"Family literacy focuses on parents, grandparents and other family members to improve the reading and writing skills of the whole family. By reading to children and engaging in fun literacy activities regularly, adults actively keep their own skills sharp, help children improve their skills and engage in life-long learning," mentions Reyes. "Manitoba’s Skills, Talent, and Knowledge Strategy highlights our commitment and support of our adult education system to ensure Manitobans have the right skills, including reading, writing, numeracy and other essential skills, as well as access to obtaining their high school credentials, which opens doors to further education and better employment opportunities."

To see the full press release from the Manitoba Government, click here.