5.3.4. Personal Counselling

Fifty-six providers reported that their programs provided personal counselling to students primarily in the day time (see Table 5-9). All of the 56 providers described this service as being of no financial cost to students. The main funders of this service are community colleges and federal government agencies. With respect to the adequacy of the provision of this service for women, 44.6 percent of those who reported its availability, described it as inadequate. Of those providers whose programs do not offer this service, 29 percent described this situation as inadequate for women in the programs.

5.3.5. Orientation to Social Services in Local and Larger Communities

Forty-three providers reported that students receive an orientation to the social services in the local and larger communities. This service, like those described above, is available mainly in the day time (see Table 5-9). There is no cost to students. The major funders of this service are community colleges. Of those providers whose programs offer this orientation, 39.5 percent are not satisfied with the adequacy of the service for women in the programs.

5.3.5.1. Discussion

Several observations can be made about the provision of supplementary services in ABE programs. The least provided service is that of childcare; the second least provided is that of transportation. Providers are most dissatisfied with the present provision of these services. The most provided services are career counselling and personal counselling. These are the services with which the providers are least dissatisfied.

The urgent need for childcare services has already been discussed in Chapter 4. Childcare and transportation services have at least two things in common: they assist individuals in carrying out their personal responsibilities and they enable individuals to physically enter the program. Within the present structure of our society, caring for children is still regarded as the personal responsibility of women. Physically getting to work or school or a meeting (and so on) is also regarded as a personal responsibility of adults. The fact that childcare and transportation services are the least provided services in ABE programs implies that the educational system is not concerning itself with assisting individuals to carry out their personal responsibilities. Yet, as has been shown in Chapter 4, these personal responsibilities tend to prevent women from attending the programs. The second common factor is that these services assist individuals to physically enter the programs. Very good ABE programs may exist and recruitment techniques may be excellent, but if women cannot physically come to the programs, the purpose of the programs cannot be achieved.

Over 62 percent of the providers reported that students have to travel between 16 and 60 minutes to reach the program site. Under-educated women whose incomes are very low cannot be expected to have their own cars or to always have bus fares. In some parts of the country, the cost of a bus ride one-way is almost enough to buy a litter of milk. Poor, under-educated women may have to make a choice between these two items, and the choice is most likely to be slanted toward the purchase of food if they have children.

The fact that career and personal counselling are more likely to be provided than childcare and transportation services suggests at least two points. First, those who design and administer ABE programs appear to have developed supplementary services which are supportive of those individuals who are able to gain access to the programs through their own resources. Second, the emphasis on counselling suggests that the purpose of ABE programs is not so much to reduce the rate of functional illiteracy or to upgrade the skills of the under- educated; but rather to help those who come to the programs to develop behaviour appropriate to their future career aspirations. Women do need access to counselling services. However financial and childcare services also need to be provided. Survival and security needs must be provided both at the time of entry and throughout the program if a woman is to maintain regular attendance. When survival and security needs are not met, the provision of personal and career counselling becomes pointless.