graphic title - major concerns
 

Concerns about upgrading programs

graphic - chart showing Greatest concerns about taking a program All interviewees were asked to describe their concerns about taking a program. The two most highly ranked concerns for each group are socioeconomic: money problems in general, and concern that taking an upgrading program might conflict with paid employment.

While this study shows that concerns about taking a program are very similar among the various groups interviewed, some interesting differences do appear:

 
• For those who anticipate taking a program, access to childcare is an important concern with 40 per cent of respondents rating it high.
• Those under 30 are very concerned about whether taking upgrading will conflict with their jobs.
• Among those who have thought about a program but don't anticipate taking one, more than a third report major concerns that it might be too late for them to learn.
• Women are more concerned than men about feeling nervous, not getting enough attention, being older than other students, finding friendly teachers and students, and not being treated as adults.
• While all groups cite money problems as a leading concern, female single parents rate it at the top as an extreme concern. This group also has exceptionally high concerns about the program being too far away.
 

What program settings would they prefer?

The top two choices of interviewees who expect to take an upgrading program in the next five years are small classroom settings with 5-10 students and one-on-one tutoring. Their preferred venue is a classroom in a local school, college or university.

Discontinuers show less interest overall in the formats presented, however they do demonstrate a clear preference for small group sessions over one-on-one tutoring. They are also much less oriented to new distance education formats – either television or Internet.

Both Persisters and Discontinuers strongly indicate that they would not be comfortable using a coffee shop, restaurant or pub as the locale for a course. Workplace programs based onsite are also unpopular, though to a lesser extent.

"Some people have said to me, 'Well, how come you didn't go back to school?' I say because I hated school. I actually hated it. It wasn't a nice experience.
—Woman age 37, grade 6

Previous Page Table of Contents Next Page