G. Lack of career path counselling.

In order to overcome the disabling effects of discrimination on women as learners and as workers, to address the inhibitions and anxieties this has created, and to ensure that the women who need retraining most have access to such retraining, special facilities are necessary. Because equal access to training alone is unlikely to achieve greater equality, counseling and extra resources must be put at the disposal of women learners.

In Sweden, it has been found that, for workers unfamiliar with training,

The best type of information available is the training itself. In this sense the existence of short term leave helps to bring training and workers together. Paid educational leave of short duration offers everyone and opportunity to become familiar with adult education without and definite commitment: it only lasts a few hours or days and makes it possible for workers to attend brief courses on a variety of subjects. 49

This principle has been found effective by the United Automobile Workers in Canada in introducing their members to paid educational leave for labor education. Their program "begins with a preparatory weekend, aimed at re-awakening interest in learning and in the use of democratic, participatory learning methods." 50

Recommendation 14.
That the Women's Education Branch of the National Education and Training Agency establish (through every educational institution, community agency and other accessible location) education and career path counselling services which will teach women learning '' skills, identify learning needs, provide information about skills needed by industry, develop short introductory courses to familiarize women with adult education, and conduct post-employment counselling.

Recommendation 15.
That women have freedom of choice from among courses made available by industry, educational institutions and community agencies.

3. Provisions for Paid Skills Development Leave, from the European Experience, Necessary for Equitable Access by Women

In addition to the elements which would assist in overcoming present barriers, the Canadian Paid Skills Development Leave system must be planned so as not to create new barriers. The implementation of educational leave in Europe has given us valuable insights into the mechanisms needed to provide for an equitable Leave system. The Canadian system must, therefore, provide for study organizers aware of the needs of adult learners, and respect the rights of all groups of employees. It must also deal with the issues of workload build-up and inadequate recognition of increased ability.

A. Lack of information about courses and provisions for taking courses.

In Europe, the lack of readily available information greatly impeded access to Skills Development Leave, and this was compounded by illiteracy, ignorance, and fear of education in some quarters.


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