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B. Poverty.
Because cost is such a major barrier to women's skill
development, and financial resources so restricted, fully financed training for
women is essential.
Recommendation 6.
That Skills Development Leave taken
by women be paid 100% from a fund established by industry and government for
this purpose. Such payment will include training allowances, tuition, travel
costs, course material, and child care. Where employed, women will suffer no
loss of wages, benefits, seniority, job status or security as a result of being
granted Paid Skills Development Leave. Prepayment by the employee shall not be
required.
C. Educational barriers.
The solution to educational barriers must impact at the
secondary level, the post-secondary level, and in all areas of industrial
training. The Adams Commission has recommended the development of a National
Education and Training Agency,
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. . . directed by representatives from labour,
management, education and governments with responsibilities for informing the
working public, supporting research on the relationship between work and
education, establishing training programs, assisting unions and professionals
in establishing programs and managing the funds for vocational training, trade
union education and literacy education. 46 |
We recommend the addition of representatives of women's
organizations, the voluntary sector and educational organizations to this
directorate.
This National Education and Training Agency must undertake the
role, now absent in our political structure, of assessing the educational needs
and problems of the citizens, and promoting, coordinating and organizing
adequate solutions. This role is essential in a period of rapidly changing
international economic realignment, major technological changes and industrial
organization. 47
Recommendation 7.
That the federal government
establish a National Education and Training Agency with an influential women's
education branch, as well as 50% representation of women in all levels of the
directorate.
Recommendation 8.
That the National Education and
Training Agency work with educational institutions to provide:
- Catch-up programs for women in the sciences and
mathematics.
- Special up-dating courses to allow employees to update their
qualifications and to be recertified for a career they had previously
interrupted.
- Universal application of mature admissions standards in
educational institutions, and greater recognition of work and life experience
as credit toward professional qualifications.
- Greater recognition by colleges and universities of courses
completed at other institutions (course articulation).
- Flexibility of course delivery as a result of extensive use
of alternative educational delivery techniques at times and locations
compatible with:
- block release;
- day release;
- part-time study leave;
- correspondence/distance learning.
- Greater availability of certificate, diploma and degree
courses in accordance with flexible delivery techniques for:
- trade and technical training;
- courses for personal, social and cultural development;
- literacy training;
- upgrading courses;
- professional courses;
- general education;
- labour education.
Recommendation 9.
That the federal and provincial
governments create, in all public educational institutions, special adult
education departments, to build on the examples of Atkinson College of York
University in Ontario, Athabaska University in Alberta, and the Open Learning
Institute in British Columbia. |