Educational opportunities are great in number and easier to get to

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Albertans wanting to return to school or take up trades training can access educational opportunities at the four Alberta Vocational Centres, AVC, located at Edmonton, Calgary, Grouard and La La Biche.

Alberta Advanced Education also funds the Community Vocational Centres, CVCs, located at Slave and the Edmonton based Alberta Petroleum Industry Training Centre, APITC.

Many Native communities are benefiting from course offerings which have been operating for 20 years. The courses fall into two different areas; academic and career/employment training programs.

AVC-Calgary provides a variety of course, programs and services for adult students. Including; adult upgrading, employment oriented, career training programs and courses directed to people who are economically, educationally or physically disadvantaged.

AVC-Edmonton provides a variety of programs for adults who had not completed their formal education or have special needs. The five fundamental services include; basic education, high school education, skills training, English as a second language and personal development.

AVC Grouard, a multi-campus institution, located near High Prairie delivers over 35 academic and job oriented training programs to the northwestern region.

As well as offering basic adult upgrading and adult high school programs, it offers courses in Forestry, Social Sciences, Health Care, Trades, Job Readiness, Commercial, Native Cultural Arts and Extension and Distance Education. Native people are employed in the student services and in the counselling departments, said Milne, coordinator of student services.

AVC Grouard also has campuses located at High Prairie, McLennan, Valleyview and Hythe.

Northeastern Alberta, which has a large Metis and Indian population, is served by AVC Lac La Biche whic opened in 1973 and has offices at St. Paul and at Athabasca. AVC La La Biche opened a new campus in 1985.

More than two dozen programs are offered in five major departments, including Adult Basic Education, Trades and Technical, Human Services, Business Education and Continuing Education.

Off-campus academic upgrading programs were also operated at various Native communities in the surrounding area.

AVC Lac La Biche employs several Native people in the student counselling and in community liaison divisions.

Community Vocational Centres based at Slave Lake serves about 22 communities in the surrounding area, providing many isolated Native communities with educational programs and support services.

On-site classrooms are located in 15 communities, providing adult basic education and academic upgrading.

There are 27 credit course offerings, including oilfield worker, and trades training in such areas as carpentry and automotives, said June Roberts, administrative assistant.

Community committees and a regional education council ensure Native people have a say in their educational needs, said Roberts.

The Alberta Petroleum Industry Training Centre, APITC, in Edmonton trains people to work in the oil industry. It has a fully operational oil rig so the program can offer a hands on learning experience.