Our last potential learner, Pedro, is 29 and has worked for the past eight years in a large unionized manufacturing firm. Until recently, he enjoyed a decent wage and a relatively secure job. Three months ago, his plant closed and he has been unable to find comparable work. He is currently receiving Employment Insurance and wants to expand his labour market options by obtaining a trade certificate as an industrial electrician. He has a high-school diploma as well as one semester of college.
Pedro is in the best position of all of our potential learners. Because he is receiving Employment Insurance he may be eligible to participate in the federal government’s Skills Development Program, or his union may have negotiated a labour market adjustment program for its workers. In addition, apprenticeships have lower tuition costs than other post-secondary programs and apprentices earn a wage while they pursue their training (but usually not while they are taking the in-class portion of their training). In addition, because Pedro has already completed one semester of college, he will likely receive some advanced standing if he chooses to pursue a diploma with his apprenticeship.
| Alberta | British Columbia | Nova Scotia | Ontario | Québec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of apprenticeship program |
4 years | 4 years | 4 years | 4-5 years | 8,000 hours |
| Length of in-class training |
36 weeks | 40 weeks | 34 weeks | 28 weeks | 1,350 hours (included above) |
| Cost of in-class training |
$2,925 | $3,400 | $2,535 | $1,500 | Up to $1,000 |
| Certification mandatory? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As these scenarios suggest, returning to school, whether to complete a high-school diploma or obtain a post-secondary credential involves a tremendous commitment of time, money and effort. Despite substantial rhetoric around the importance of lifelong learning, there are few programs and policies to support less-educated adults who wish to upgrade their skills. Few workplaces offer skills-upgrading opportunities to less-educated adults. No province (except Alberta under certain circumstances) provides income support to adults who are already working, even if they are working in the low-wage labour market. As a result, most adult learners must rely on family and friends and/or juggle work and school and/or incur significant financial debt. As Grace’s scenario illustrates, many adults are not even eligible for government loans. These adults may end up relying on costly private loans. While most adults who return to school will enjoy significant economic benefits and improved labour market prospects, these benefits are not guaranteed up front. In most cases, returning to school requires great sacrifice and a profound leap of faith. In section 8, we take a closer look at these gaps in provincial and federal adult learning policies.