The perspective of the education and training community

Successful transitions are only possible when individuals have full access to education and training. Individuals -- school leavers, recent graduates, members of equity groups, or those without a recent work history -- are often unable to find financially sustainable employment that allows them to develop work histories and gives them access to further opportunities both in the workplace and for further education. Issues in this area can be categorized as access to:

• information,
• prior learning assessments and skill competency assessments,
• available educational or training programs (or programs that need to be developed),
• entry-level jobs, and
• labour market adjustment education.
  
  
  

Information

Information about the range of courses and programs, eligibility, and alternatives is often difficult for individuals to obtain on their own. Barriers include language, sources of information, hours of operation, number of courses and programs, and reception by information providers. Early school leavers may not seek information about jobs because of their poor experience in formal schooling. They have often not adapted well to the school system and do not see it as an information resource.

Students often make choices about careers and life directions in Grade 8, before many have had career education. Career education programs are being introduced in some schools, but the practice is not sufficiently widespread and often does not include business, labour, and government as partners in the process.