Students at a Saint John adult learning centre say provincial cuts to the programs are taking away opportunities for people trying to improve their lives.
Carole Robichaud, a student at the Saint John Kings Adult Learning Centre, said some of her classmates gave up trying to get their high school equivalency diploma after a 25 per cent provincewide funding cut led to layoffs at the centre, and cut their summer classes short.
“We were all upset, and we are still upset because some of the people that were in the class gave up and some of us, we are still holding on,” she said.
Robichaud is 46 years old and dreams of one day becoming a registered nurse, but for most of her life she has struggled with school due to a learning disability that makes it harder for her to learn at a faster pace.
She said all that changed when she met Carla McAffee, her former teacher at the centre, who encouraged her to keep trying to finish her education.
“She doesn’t mind me, I can ask her million times about the questions, and she still doesn’t get mad, there’s a lot of people that do,” she said. “She’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever had in my life. I wouldn’t be this far if it wasn’t for her.”
Following the cuts, students were moved from their classroom at the John Howard Society to Place 400.
Classes are expected to resume in October, a month later than usual, but Robichaud said those who stayed are now concerned they won’t be able to do it without teachers like McAffee.
“She’s not just a teacher; she is a nurse, a therapist. She is a cheerful person, good-hearted,” she said. “She’s been there for us, she’s there for our schooling, and she’s there for us if we need to talk.
“I can’t even explain how much she means to me.”
Province cuts program’s budget, citing low enrolment
The province announced cuts to community adult learning programs (CALPs) during main estimates, citing declining enrolment.
According to Rebecca Howland, a spokesperson for the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, CALP enrolment peaked at more than 2,000 students in 2019 before steadily declining to 965 participants in 2026.
CALPs provide free education and skills training for adults and are the only programs that help learners prepare for the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) exam, formerly known as GED.
The programs also provide foundational training in reading, writing and math, language courses and career development resources.
McAffee previously told Acadia Broadcasting that the Saint John Kings Adult Learning Centre did not renew her contract or another position because of the cuts.
She also said teacher hours are being reduced, and some student supports have been eliminated.
Adult learners want a chance to change
Like Robichaud, student Eric Surrette is frustrated with the situation.
In a statement, Surrette said he joined McAffee’s class after getting out of prison and being homeless for several years, wanting a better life for himself.
Surrette said finishing his education was his attempt to do things “the right way,” instead of going back to the way he was living.
“But then the province takes away programs and opportunities for people who are actually trying to get their lives together,” he added. “I don’t understand how that’s supposed to help people like me. If someone is trying to change, give them a chance.”
Former student Jasmine White, who earned her GED in 2018, said the centre played a key role in helping her finish her education.
White has ADHD, and like many students who went through the program, she struggled with school for most of her life.
“Teachers like [Carla] are being stripped away, the ones that sit there to help you, don’t judge you and root for you,” she said.
White said she is concerned that the cuts could be the first step toward phasing out the programs altogether.
Questions remain
White is not the only one worried about the program’s future.
Robichaud said students still don’t know what classes will look like when they resume this fall.
“We don’t know anything,” she said.
In a previous statement, Howland said the changes have not affected access to CAEC preparation and that learners can continue to seek support through their local CALP.
She added that WorkingNB offices continue to help residents access training and employment supports through personalized learning plans.
Acadia Broadcasting reached out to Saint John Kings Adult Learning Centre for comment but did not receive a response.
