Queen Elizabeth Continuing Education:  An All-Ages Education

Does learning ever end?  In the Surrey School District, we believe everyone is a “lifelong learner”.  Yet, returning to school as an adult, or after a long break, can be a confusing, daunting, even intimidating experience, especially if the previous experience with school was not favourable.  We understand.  At QECE, we offer support that will, hopefully, alleviate these stressors as well as provide guidance for adult learners returning to school.  As such, the District offers educational programs for learners who choose to continue learning in their adult years.

The Adult Education program is about continuous learning, and at Queen Elizabeth Continuing Education (QECE) this specifically refers to formal learning as an adult.  Queen Elizabeth Continuing Education is a grade 11 and 12 “high school”, or senior secondary, offering academic and elective courses in the late afternoon and evening.

At QECE, we are highly motivated to assist our students to be successful and take the next step in their learning journey.  We know that adult students are returning to school for several reasons and, whatever their motivation, our goal is the student’s success and entrance to the next port of their adult education journey.

The curriculum offered at QECE is the BC Curriculum (Ministry of Education and Child Care).  The courses we offer are the same courses and same curriculum found in all high schools in BC.  Also, our teachers are BC licensed and accredited teachers.  In many cases, our teachers are day schoolteachers who choose to teach in the afternoon and/or evening.

There are two pathways to graduation in BC: the Dogwood Diploma and the Adult Dogwood Diploma.  These diplomas are equal.  While high school students are enrolled in up to eight 8 courses per year from grades 10-12 as part of their Dogwood Diploma, adult students are required to take 5 courses to achieve their Adult Dogwood Diploma.  Why the difference in the number of courses required?  High school students are making the “high school journey” for the first time, whereas adults have travelled this path before and, as adults, have myriad responsibilities in life, e.g. work, spouse/partner, children, aging parents, etc.

To attain graduation in the adult program, a student must complete 20 credits (most courses are 4 credits), or 5 courses.  The requirements for achieving the Adult Dogwood Diploma include the following:

• Language Arts 12 – English Studies 12, English First People’s 12, or an equivalent course
• a Mathematics 11 or 12 course
• 3 Grade 12 elective courses – these can be “academic” or “elective” courses

Or

• 1 Social Studies 11 or 12 course and 2 Grade 12 elective courses

Registration at QECE is to be completed on-line.  However, students are still welcome to come to the Office and staff will assist students with their questions.  We strongly recommend registering early, since these courses often fill and then students are placed on a waiting list.

For further information, you can contact the Queen Elizabeth Continuing Education  office at 604.581.1413 or visit our webpage at:

https://www.surreyschools.ca/queenelizabethcontinuingeducation