| 25 to 34 | 35 to 44 | 45 to 54 | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase income | 48.5 | 37.5 | 33.8 | 43.0 |
| Keep job | 9.5 | 11.7 | 14.4 | 10.9 |
| Promotion | 18.2 | 18.8 | 20.0 | 18.7 |
| Do job Better | 43.5 | 52.5 | 55.7 | 48.1 |
| Own business | 20.9 | 11.4 | 6.8 | 15.8 |
| Find/change jobs | 62.1 | 41.4 | 42.4 | 52.6 |
| Other | 11.8 | 13.1 | 14.9 | 12.7 |
Source: Authors’ calculations using the Adult Education and Training Survey (2003)
The relationship between obtaining a post-secondary credential and improved labour market prospects is well established. But as the previous section has illustrated, few adults actually return to school. This section examines barriers and incentives to participation.
The basic admission requirement for post-secondary programs in Canada is a high-school diploma or equivalent OR any lesser minimum admission requirement as established by the institution on a program-specific basis. Few programs have lower minimum requirements. In fact it is more common for a program to have higher requirements, such as specific prerequisite courses or a certain grade point average. In addition, meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee entry to any program or faculty. Because the number of qualified applicants usually exceeds the number of spaces available, all post-secondary institutions reserve the right to select from among the academically best qualified applicants. Most colleges and universities have special policies for ‘mature’ students. For example, according to the Ontario Colleges website:
Applicants to Ontario colleges who have NOT obtained an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, AND who will be 19-years-of-age by the program start date, may be considered for admission to the colleges as mature students. Mature student status will be considered on an individual basis and testing may be conducted for an evaluation of their academic potential. Mature applicants must also meet the specific program requirements in order to be accepted.
Official policies are similar for most colleges and universities across Canada.31 Many colleges and some universities have innovative programs designed to increase access for non-traditional students. See Box 5.1 for a description of such a program at the University of Toronto.
31 Quick links to admission polices for most Ontario colleges can be found at: http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/pls/portal/url/page/toplevelpages/OCAS_findprogram_admission.