In 2001, the Nova Scotia Department of Education launched a major new adult learning initiative aimed at creating a more co-ordinated system for adults seeking to upgrade their literacy and numeracy skills and/or complete their high-school education. The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning is the administrative body within the adult education system that is responsible for the programs and services that support the system. The School works in partnership with existing program delivery organizations and ensures that there is a continuum of educational programs that meet the needs of adults for improved accessibility, transferable learning and quality program delivery. As part of the initiative the Department developed a new Nova Scotia High-school Diploma for Adults.
None of the five provinces are currently running any significant advertising campaigns to encourage less-educated adults to return to school. On a positive note, Ontario plans to implement a ‘one-stop’ access system in the spring of 2006 (See Box 4.3 for more information on this program).
Ontario’s One-Stop System will serve a range of clients, from those with low skills to those who are highly skilled but are facing adjustment. Services will include labour market information, job matching, employment counselling, and information on skills development options. Services will also address the needs of those with barriers to employment, including at-risk youth, new immigrants, Aboriginal Peoples, older workers, and the long-term unemployed. Ontario’s One-Stop System will also support the demand side of the labour market equation, helping employers to identify and meet their current and emerging skills needs and increase productivity through skills enhancement.
The system will be accessible through a variety of channels (internet, telephone, in-person, government offices, community agencies). The goal is to ensure that in Ontario’s One-Stop System there will be “no wrong door”. All community partners will be aware of services and there will be strong links to Employment Insurance (Part I) and Ontario Works and the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS).
Source: Canada-Ontario Labour Market Agreement, November 2005
As background to the OECD report mentioned above, the OECD prepared a detailed Country Note for each of the countries included in its review. One of the most interesting findings of the Canadian Country Note (OECD, 2002b) was that despite the variety of ways in which information has been made available, Canadian providers almost unanimously said students find them predominantly through word of mouth, particularly the recommendations of friends. As the report concluded: