|
RECOMMENDATIONS
The major recommendations of this report are:
General
- That a national policy to eradicate functional illiteracy
among Canadian adults be instituted, that this policy address the specific
learning and related needs of women, and that women's groups be consulted in
the development of this policy.
- That increased funding for adult basic education (ABE) be
made available by both provincial and federal governments to support the
following programs and services for women: development of a wide range of ABE
programs; provision of support services; professional development for
instructors of ABE programs; curriculum development; and materials development.
- That communication links be established among providers of
ABE programs for women. providers of support services, and those responsible
for occupational training programs.
- That ABE program directories for each province and both
territories be compiled immediately and that these directories: be available to
anyone in any part of Canada; be provided in an accessible format; and be
updated on a regular basis.
Program Delivery
- School boards and community colleges should continue to
provide ABE programs for women. The membership of committees charged with
making decisions about such programs should include women adult educators and
adult women students.
- Alternatives to institutionally provided ABE programs should
be encouraged. For example, literacy groups, community and voluntary
organizations should be encouraged politically and assisted financially to
provide programs for under-educated women.
- It is extremely difficult for adult women with .Jobs and
children to pursue their educational goals within a time schedule designed for
children and young adults. Measures must be taken to provide flexible time
scheduling of programs for women.
- Appropriate financial support should be available to women
who want to upgrade their education during a full-time program. For example, a
guaranteed income and access to free or low-cost childcare could be made
available to women who are upgrading their education on a full-time basis.
Subsidies should be made available to those who want to attend part-time
programs.
- The provision of supplementary services to women in ABE
programs must be developed, especially childcare, transportation, counseling
services, and support services necessary to assist women to enter training
programs and the labor force. Supplementary services should be available not
only during the day, but also in the evenings ( and weekends, when
necessary).
Instructors
- Professional development programs should be developed to
help instructors of women in ABE programs become more aware of the differences
between the learning needs of women and men, and to incorporate this awareness
in the content and process of their curriculum.
- More instructors with a science background should be
recruited to teach women in ABE programs.
- Professional development programs should be developed to
help instructors learn to teach basic science to under-educated women.
Curriculum
- Curricula and teaching guidelines relevant to the learning
needs of under-educated women should be developed by instructors in
consultation with women students.
- With respect to women, adult basic education should include
introductory programs in elementary science to help them prepare for the
academic upgrading necessary for entry into non-traditional training programs.
- Women in ABE programs should be informed of the declining
demand for traditional training programs and occupations.
- Women in ABE programs should be given opportunities to become
aware of the support services appropriate for women in non-traditional
occupations.
Materials
- There is an urgent need for materials specifically designed
for instructors and women students in ABE programs.
- Materials for use in one-to-one and small group teaching
formats and for computer assisted learning should be developed for instructors
and women students in ABE programs.
- Instructors and women students in ABE programs should be
involved in the development of materials.
- Providers of ABE programs should provide women students with
increased access to computers.
Further Research
A number of recommendations are made for further research in
the area of ABE programs for women and the participation of under- educated
women in such programs.
FOR COPIES OF
CCLOW'S NEW PUBLICATIONS WRITE:
47 MAIN STREET
TORONTO, ONTARIO M4E
2V6
(416-699-1909) |