Women & Adult Basic Education in Canada: An Exploratory Study


Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION
	1.1. THE NEED FOR THE REPORT.
	1.2. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
	1.3. AUDIENCE
	1.4 CLARIFICATION OF TERMS USED FREQUENTLY IN REPORT
		1.4.1 Under educated or Functionally Illiterate Adults 1.4.2. Adult Basic Education 1.4.3 The Systemic Perspective of Functional literacy
	1.5. ORGANIZATION OF REPORT


2. DEFINING THE PROBLEM
	2.1. INTRODUCTION
	2.2. THE COMPLEXITY OF FUNCTIONAL ILLITERACY WITHIN THE FEMALE POPULATION
	2.3. EXTENT OF FUNCTIONAL ILLITERACY WITHIN THE FEMALE ADULT POPULATION
		2.3.1 The Total Adult Population 2.3.2 The Total Adult Population That Does Not Attend School 2.3.3 Distribution by Sex 2.3.4 Distribution by Age 2.3.5 Distribution by Region 2.3.6 Urban/Rural Distribution

	2.4. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OF THE FEMALE UNDER-EDUCATED POPULATION
		2.4.1. The Total Under-educated Adult Population 2.4.2 Differences by Sex 2.4.3 Differences by Age 2.4.4 Differences by Region 2.4.5 Urban/Rural Differences

	2.5. LABOUR MARKET CONTEXTS OF UNDER-EDUCATED WOMEN
		2.5.1 Labour Force Participation and Income of Under-educated Women 2.5.2 Skills Labour Needs of Canadian Industries 2.5.3 The Federal Response to the Skills Training Needs of Women and of Canadian Industries 2.5.4 Increasing Women's Participation in Educational and Job-Training Programs

2.6. CONCLUSION

	3.4. METHOD OF SAMPLE SELECTION
	3.5. DATA COLLECTION
		3.5.1 Data on ABE Programs 3.5.2 Data on Learning: and Related Needs of Women in ABE Programs

3.6. DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES AND INSTRUMENTS


4. LEARNING AND RELATED NEEDS OF WOMEN IN ARE PROGRAMS
	4.1 INTRODUCTION
	4.2 FINDINGS FROM STUDENT INTERVIEWS
		4.2.1 General Information 4.2.2 Childcare Responsibilities 4.2.3 Previous and Intended Occupations of Women in ABE Programs 4.2.4 Major Needs of Students 4.2.5 Students' Perceptions of the Adequacy of the Programs

	4.3. FINDINGS FROM PROVIDERS' RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRES
		4.3.1 Participation of Women in ABE Programs 4.3.2 Age of Women in ABE Programs 4.3.3 Occupations of Students in ABE Programs 4.3.4 Major Needs of Women in ABE Programs 4.3.5 Barriers to Women's Regular Attendance in ABE Programs 4.3.6 Difference Between the Learning Needs of Women and Men in ABE Programs 4.3.7 Separate ABE Programs for Women and Men 4.3.8 Do ABE Programs Address the Needs of Women?
	4.4. CONCLUSIONS


5. ABE PROGRAM DELIVERY
	5.1. INTRODUCTION
	5.2. GENERAL INFORMATION
		5.2.1 Type of Programs 5.2.2 Location 5.2.3 Age of Programs 5.2.4 Who Delivers ABE Programs 5.2.5 Duration of Program and Time Offered 5.2.6 Cost of Tuition and Textbooks 5.2.7 Entry Requirements 5.2.8 Method of Student Recruitment

	5.3. SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES
		5.3.1 Childcare 5.3.2 Transportation 5.3.3 Career Counselling 5.3.4 Personal Counselling 5.3.5 Orientation to Social Services in Local and Larger Communities 5.3.5.1. Discussion
	5.4. CONCLUSIONS


6. ABE INSTRUCTORS, CURRICULA, AND MATERIALS
	6.1 INTRODUCTION
	6.2 INSTRUCTOR PROFILE
		6.2.1 Sex and Age 6.2.2 Academic Background and Degree 6.2.3 Training and Experience in Teaching Adult Basic Education 6.2.4 Employment Status and Salary 6.2.5 Official Responsibilities
	6.3. CURRICULUM
		6.3.1 Major Focus of ABE Programs 6.3.2 Instructors' Definition of Literacy and Adult Basic Education 6.3.3 Pre-set Curriculum 6.3.4 Teaching Format 6.3.5 Criteria for Program Content and Control of Program Content

	6.4 MATERIALS
		6.4.1 Materials Used in ABE Programs 6.4.2 Portrayal of Women in ABE Materials 6.4.3 Materials Preferred by ABE Providers 6.4.4 Materials Criteria and Control 6.4.5 Non-Print Materials and Resources
	6.5. CONCLUSION


7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
	7.1 LEARNING AND RELATED NEEDS OF WOMEN
	7.2 PROGRAM DELIVERY
	7.3 INSTRUCTORS
	7.4 CURRICULUM
	7.5 MATERIALS
	7.6 RECOMMENDATIONS
		7.6.1 General 7.6.2 Program Delivery 7.6.3 Instructors 7.6.4 Curriculum 7.6.5 Materials
	7.7. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
		7.7.1 General 7.7.2 ABE and Science Education 7.7.3 Program Delivery 7.7.4 Instructors 7.7.5 Curriculum 7.7.6 Materials

Appendix D. Questionnaire Administered to Providers of ARE Programs *not available online

Appendix E. Interview Schedule used in Personal Interviews with Women Students in ABE Programs *not available online


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