January 29, 2001
Hon. Janet Ecker, Minister of
Education
22nd Flr. Mowat Block
900 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1L2
Dear Minister Ecker:
Hundreds of thousands of
Ontario citizens have relied on, and continue to rely on the Independent
Learning Centre for their elementary or secondary education. ILC has
provided vital educational services throughout its 75 year history. The
proposed move of ILC to TVO/OECA was announced January 4, 2001. However,
this announcement contained no commitment to continue these services.
The people of Ontario, including the dedicated employees of ILC, deserve
answers to a number of critical questions.
The recent announcement comes
at a time when there is already deep concern for adult education in
Ontario. Under the Harris governments, adult education centres have
virtually disappeared. Learners need ILC more than ever.
The Independent Learning Centre
has been a life-saver, quite literally, for many Ontarians. ILC offers
vital options that enable learners to fit studies into their diverse
lives: the option to begin a course at any time, to complete it at their
own pace, to study at lunch, in transit, in the workplace or at the
kitchen table while the children nap. We are concerned that the
announcement says nothing to reassure Ontarians that these educational
options will remain. Further, no evidence has been brought forward to
show that they can be delivered better outside the Ministry of
Education.
ILC learners are found across
the province – residents of the GTA and 905 areas, people living in
the many smaller communities of the province and some in the most
isolated areas. They come from all walks of life. They may be working
their way out of difficult circumstances or upgrading in order to retain
their jobs or move ahead. Some rely on ILC courses while in training or
away for international competition in sports or performances in the
arts. Some Ontario families rely on ILC while temporarily living abroad
or travelling for an extended period.
Many of these Ontarians have
little voice to question the impact of the announced changes. Sixty per
cent of ILC’s students are women, often combining their studies with
raising their children. Some learners live in isolated areas, work
shifts, or are otherwise unable to access day schools. Some learners are
recent immigrants, eager to study Ontario courses while working to
establish their new lives.
The Francophone population in
Ontario relies on ILC, which offers courses in French and in English.
The announcement made no commitment to continue to meet Francophone
needs and did not demonstrate how this could be done better outside the
Ministry of Education.
Currently, 18 per cent of
learners with ILC have special needs. Mobility limitations or
environmental sensitivities, for example, may make distance education
the only option for a learner. ILC builds flexibility into its services,
in order to accommodate these learners.
ILC courses are used by school
boards and others who rely on the high quality ILC curriculum materials.
Students on home study may use them. ILC courses and/or services also
support the work of many community organizations, such as literacy
centres, Native Friendship Centres, and centres serving learners with
disabilities. Learners in correctional services institutions, hospitals,
women’s shelters, halfway houses, psychiatric and other institutions
rely on ILC courses.
Distance education will be
significant in our future. It is often the only choice that works for an
adult learner. The recent announcement focused on the "new
media" which will be part of our exciting future. However, with no
commitment to provide the option of print-based courses, we are
concerned that many learners will be denied the opportunity to complete
their studies. Paper remains highly portable and accessible at the
learner’s own choice of time and place. Will the business plan for the
merged ILC/OECA include direct service in both the new and the proven
media?
Broadcast, CD-ROM and Internet
technology, all the "new media", have much to offer distance
education, as does paper-based delivery. We must meet the needs of all
learners served by ILC. The announcement fails to demonstrate that this
will be better done outside the Ministry, explain how this will be done
following the proposed merger, or state a commitment to do so.
The broad mandate of
Independent Learning Centre goes beyond the selection of the media in
which courses are delivered. We are concerned that the announcement so
little reflected a commitment to meet the needs of learners and provide
the diverse services offered by ILC.
ILC grants credits and issues
secondary school diplomas. Will this mandate transfer to ILC/OECA? ILC
is the recognized provider of GED testing in Ontario. The demand for
this service has grown rapidly. What plans have been made to continue
this service? Is this responsibility better placed outside the Ministry?
ILC has experienced an erosion
of services over the past decade. However, the need persists for the
portable, well-supported courses ILC provides. Without the full range of
ILC services, many Ontario citizens will be denied an opportunity to
complete their secondary education. The social cost in this will be
high.
OPSEU represents 55 members at
ILC who are proud of the service they provide. These members understand
the needs of their students and recognize the commitment they make to
achieving their educational goals. My members express concern about the
omissions in the recent announcement. On their behalf and on behalf of
the many Ontarians who depend on ILC, I look forward to an early
opportunity to meet with you. Since neither the Ministry Employee
Relations Committee nor other avenues of communication have been
forthcoming or forthright about the timing of the proposed transfer, any
delay in meeting will greatly exacerbate the concerns.
Yours truly,
Leah Casselman
President, OPSEU
cc - Dianne Cunningham,
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
