Project Description
Returning to High School in Ontario: Adult Students, Postsecondary Plans and Program Supports examined the role of adult high school programs in supporting postsecondary access.  Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from approximately 500 adult students in Ontario to understand the adult high school population, their postsecondary plans and concerns, the adult high school learning environment and postsecondary transition supports.

Findings
Most of the students in this study were women, immigrants, or Aboriginal and tended to be from low-income backgrounds. Half of the students already had a high school diploma and were returning to acquire prerequisites for a particular postsecondary program or had a foreign credential that was not recognized by Canadian institutions or employers. Others did not complete high school in Ontario as adolescents due to difficulties in their personal lives, lack of interest in school, or wanting or needing to work.

While financial factors did not have a significant influence on plans to attend PSE, comments following the survey questions were predominantly about finances. However, students were knowledgeable about the options available for financing PSE such as OSAP and their eligibility and other government aid programs.

The majority of students planned to attend college rather than university. While aspirations may be high, only one-quarter of the students applied to PSE. Those that went tended to choose programs that have an explicit career path such as health care, engineering or technology.

Students noted the lack of guidance and career counselling in high schools as well as the misalignment with their courses and career aspirations. Students wanted to see course content that was more career-oriented and applied to the workplace.

This study is one of many initiated by HEQCO to explore the pathways to postsecondary education of “non-traditional” students and the policy changes that may ease their transition into and through Ontario’s postsecondary system.

Returning to High School in Ontario: Adult Students, Postsecondary Plans and Program Supports was written by Christine Pinsent-Johnson, Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA), Shannon Howell, CCI Research Inc. and Rebekka King, CESBA.

For more information visit: http://www.heqco.ca/en-CA/Research/Research%20Publications/Pages/Summary.aspx?link=110

The wine flowed, children danced and the music played until the wee hours of the morning. The neighbours didn’t complain…..because pretty much everyone who lived on that inner-city block in Winnipeg was there.

It was all in honour of one of the University of Manitoba’s newest medical graduates ….Donna Neufeld, a 48 year old mother of four who can barely believe that M-D is now attached to her name.

Everyone at the party that night knew just how hard it was for her to get there. But along with a great big hurrah for Doctor Donna, it was also bon voyage, a gathering at their old house to say good-bye.

Donna Neufeld and her husband Erv are leaving Winnipeg for Red Deer Alberta, where she’ll complete a two year family medicine residency.  She won’t be gone for too long,  though.  When she finishes her two year residency, she plans to come back to Manitoba to set up a rural family pratice in Morden.

This month, she received the Katherine Klassen memorial award for demonstrating a high level of compassion and modeling a patient-centered approach to care.

Our documentary is called “As Soon As I Could”. It was produced by Suzanne Dufresne.

http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/documentaries/2013/06/14/doc-as-soon-as-i-could/

Source: CBC.ca

The Capital Educators’ Awards recognize individuals who have displayed excellence in teaching and made a significant impact on the lives of their students by acting as a positive role model. A community panel of judges will select 16 award recipients.

The 2013 award winners will be announced on May 23rd at the 12th annual EduGala at Algonquin College.

Congratulations to Daphne and all of the finalists!