Towards an effective adult learning system

Towards an Effective Adult Learning System: Report on the Toronto Roundtable Prepared for the Adult Learning Knowledge Centre of the Canadian Council on Learning By Ron Saunders Canadian Policy Research Networks March 2007 Towards an Effective Adult Learning System: Report on the Toronto Roundtable Introduction There is a lot of talk in policy circles about “lifelong” learning. [...] It is particularly important that those with lower levels of educational attainment have the opportunity to improve their skills, in light of concerns about the polarization of earnings and income and disturbing evidence (from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey) about adult literacy levels:. [...] To answer this question, Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) undertook a study to document the availability of learning opportunities for adults, identify factors that influence the participation of less-educated/ less-skilled adults, and assess the effectiveness of our adult learning systems. [...] The Adult Learning Knowledge Centre (ALKC) of the Canadian Council on Learning is sponsoring a series of regional roundtables to discuss the findings of Too Many Left Behind, develop a vision for a more effective learning system, and identify actions that could be taken to move towards that vision. [...] Examples of Promising Initiatives in Other Jurisdictions Karen Myers, one of the authors of Too Many Left Behind, presented a selection of examples of recent initiatives in other provinces or US states to improve learning opportunities for adults or to better connect learning programs to what employers are looking for in the labour market.