EDUCATION IN CANADA: CURRENT ISSUES
ISSUES OF CONCERN
A. Accessibility
1. Student Loans
2. Diverse Needs
a. Computer Education
b. Official Languages in Education
c. Special Needs
B. Quality of Education
1. School Dropouts
2. Illiteracy
3. Mathematics and Science Education
4. Canadian Studies
5. International Education
C. Financing Education
ISSUES OF CONCERN
The public financial investment in education appears to have produced only mediocre results from the labour-market standpoint, according to some indicators of performance. Clearly, what is important is not only the amount of expenditures but how they are used.
Some experts have criticized the system of federal EPF transfers to the provinces, made without directions or guidelines, as lacking in purpose and effectiveness. They stress the need for consensus on the goals of education in Canada, for clarification of the federal government's role and for appropriate institutional structures to balance the demands of the labour market with the interests of individual students and the goal of the pursuit of knowledge, both general and research-related. Speakers at the 1987 National Forum discussed the accessibility, quality and financing of education in a situation where institutions, disciplines and interest groups tend to compete for dwindling financial resources without the benefit of a clearly defined purpose.
In spite of Canada's establishment of a network of public education systems with wide accessibility, questions have arisen about their focus, quality and effectiveness. Why, for example, do large numbers of high school students choose to discontinue their studies? How extensive and effective are programs offering work-related training for those who do not attend university?
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