Background

While there are some note able exceptions, legislative bodies, governmental agencies and major educational institutions and systems do not view adult basic education as an economic necessity, at least not an economic necessity which is their responsibility. Such services are generally viewed as necessary because of the failure of the individual who has already received one chance; or as necessary because undereducated adults are more likely than persons at other educational levels to become dependent on governments for social, financial and medical assistance at the same time as they are unable to make any substantial monetary contributions to these services through taxes.

In addition the financial return to the service-provider (i.e. to governments in terms of tax dollars or reduction in welfare rolls, or to educational institutions in terms of cost recovery), is viewed as too low to justify the expense. Actually, only the immediate returns may be too low. As educational level increases, educational participation also increase. Therefore, services designed to increase an adult's educational level will eventually result in increased participation as a paying consumer of educational services.

The costs of maintaining social, welfare and medical systems are rarely viewed as having any connection to under education among adults. One study by a women's group which provides a BJRT and group counseling program to mothers on welfare, estimates that if just two women go off family benefits and into full-time employment in one year, the savings in unpaid family benefits over the next twelve years would more than cover the province's share of the program costs for one year. (1).

(1). From a study made by Rita Mifflin for the Focus on Change Program, a program for sole-support mothers operated by the Metro Toronto Y.W.C.A., March 1976.