Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) STATISTICAL INFORMATION

Transcription

1 Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) STATISTICAL INFORMATION Year ADULT EDUCATION SKILLS AND LEARNING BRANCH NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND ADVANCED EDUCATION

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents... 2 Introduction... 3 NSSAL Service Delivery Partners... 4 NSSAL Enrolment Data NSSAL Adult Learner Survey Findings for GED Testing GED Test-taker Survey Findings for Appendix A - NSSAL Service Delivery Partners Appendix B NSSAL Adult Learner Survey Appendix C GED SURVEY P age

3 INTRODUCTION The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) was formed in 2001 to coordinate adult learning programs across the province, ranging from basic literacy to high school completion. NSSAL is administered through the Adult Education Division, Skills and Learning Branch of the Department of Labour and Advanced Education. NSSAL provides program funding, curriculum development, program guidelines, student resources, recognition for prior learning (RPL) and practitioner support and training research to organizations that deliver programs directly to adults. NSSAL has the following goals: Coordinate a continuum of tuition-free adult learning programs that meet the learning needs of adults from basic literacy to high school graduation. Improve accessibility to adult learning program within the province and ensure that the learning achieved is recognized and transferable among programs and provinces. Ensure that quality standards for adult learning program delivery are met and that these programs reflect exemplary adult learning practices. Provide a high school credential to adults that is recognized by employers, colleges and universities. Support African-Canadian, Aboriginal, Acadian, and learners with special needs. Provide professional development and resources for those who deliver adult learning programs. Contribute to the development of a skilled, competitive workforce, healthy communities, and a vibrant economy. 3 P age

4 NSSAL SERVICE DELIVERY PARTNERS NSSAL s goals are carried out through partnering with community learning organizations, the Nova Scotia Community College, Université Sainte-Anne, regional school boards and Correspondence Studies through Nova Scotia s Department of Education. Through NSSAL, forty-two service providers delivered over 150 programs across the province in See Appendix A for a complete list of service delivery partners. Community Learning Organizations (CLOs) There are 30 community learning organizations and four First Nation s organizations across the province that offer a wide variety of learning opportunities, including one-to-one volunteer tutoring and classes at Levels I, II and sometimes Level III of the Adult Learning (ALP) program. Through Labour Market Agreement funds, some community learning organizations provide employability skills training in conjunction with their ALP programs. Several organizations are dedicated to serving specific populations including African-Canadian, Aboriginal, and the deaf. Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) NSCC offers ALP Level III and IV classes at 13 campuses across the province. Through Labour Market Agreement funds, the college offers an enhanced communications curriculum for ESL students. In addition, an Africentric ALP program through the African Canadian Transition Program is provided at the Akerley campus. Adult High Schools The adult high schools are located at 17 sites across Nova Scotia and are operated by regional school boards. These schools offer high school credits that can be used to meet the requirements of the Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma for Adults (NSHSGDA) credits and General Education Development (GED) preparation courses. Équipe d alphabétisation Nouvelle-Écosse and Université Sainte-Anne The programme de formation générale des adultes (FGA) provides opportunities for adult learners to engage in a continuum of programs, ranging from basic literacy to high school completion. Équipe d alphabétisation Nouvelle-Écosse offers FGA Level II programs at seven locations. Université Sainte-Anne provides FGA Level II, III and IV at 5 campuses. 4 P age

5 NSSAL ENROLMENT DATA In , there were 4457 adult learners enrolled in NSSAL programs. The breakdown in terms of which NSSAL delivery partner adult learners took their program in are as follows: Adult High School Community Learning Organization NSCC Équipe d alphabétisation Nouvelle-Écosse Université Sainte-Anne Transfer of High School Credits Learners can have high school credits gained in other educational institutions credited toward the requirements for the NSHSGDA. When requested, the Adult Education Division assesses credits that have been completed elsewhere to determine if they meet established criteria for NSHSGDA credits. The Division awarded 1543 transfer credits in P age

6 NSSAL ADULT LEARNER SURVEY FINDINGS FOR NSSAL service delivery partners are required to have learners complete a survey that allows the Adult Education Division to provide a quantitative description of the adult learner populations that the programs serve. The purpose of this report is to provide student demographic and statistical information to inform planning and development of NSSAL programming. The data is based on selfdisclosed information from survey respondents. 1 Of those who completed the survey, some chose to skip questions on the survey. NSSAL Survey Highlights In , the Adult Education Division received data from over 3300 learner surveys. Some of the highlights are as follows: Over 46 per cent of NSSAL learners were under the age of 30. Close to 41 per cent said that obtaining a high school diploma was their primary reason for attending a NSSAL program. Fourteen per cent cited preparing for the GED and 13 per cent said that improving their literacy skills was their main reason for attending a program. Almost 10 per cent saw personal development as their principal motivation. Almost 8 per cent of NSSAL learners wanted to increase their second-language skills. Almost 45 per cent of NSSAL learners found programs through a friend or family member. This compared to 38 per cent who were referred by professionals to the program. Eleven per cent learned about the program through advertisements, and 5 per cent through the NSSAL website. Over 46 per cent of NSSAL learners reported that they had been out of the public school system for 10 years or less. Over 50 per cent of NSSAL learners said they had completed grade 10 or higher in the public school system. The main source of income for NSSAL learners was the Department of Community Services. This was the case for 34 per cent of NSSAL learners. This compared with 24 per cent of learners who reported either part or full time work as their primary source of income and 16 per cent who cited Employment Nova Scotia s (ENS) Skill Development Program. 1 Numbers have been rounded so percentages might not add up to exactly 100 per cent. 6 P age

7 ADULT LEARNER SURVEY RESPONSES Where are you taking the program? RESPONSE % of response Adult High School (grade 11 and 12 level courses) % Community Learning Organization (Level I, II, III programs) % NSCC (Level III, IV programs) % French Programs (Level I, II, III, IV programs) % Grand Total % What type of adult learning program are you in (CLO)? RESPONSE % Classroom program % Tutor program % How old are you? (check one) RESPONSE % 19 years old % 20 years old % 21 years old % years old % years old % years old % years old % years old % years old % 65 years or older % Response Total 3285 What is your gender? (check one) RESPONSE % Female % Male % Response Total 3320 Why adult learning program? (check all that apply) RESPONSE % Enter college or university % Improve reading/writing/math/computer skills % Obtain a better job % Obtain a high school diploma % Personal development % To enter the workforce % To prepare for GED (equivalent to high school diploma) % Other % 7 P age

8 Continuation of Adult Learner Survey Responses What skills do you want to improve? (check all that apply) RESPONSE % Computer skills % Math skills % Reading skills % Science skills % Second-language skills % Writing skills % Other % What is your first language? (check one) RESPONSE % English % French % American Sign Language % Mi'kmaq % Other % Response Total 3279 Do you belong to any of the following groups? (check one) RESPONSE % Acadian % African-Canadian % First Nations % Hearing impaired/deaf % No % Other % How did you find out about the program? (check all the apply) RESPONSE % Advertisement % Employment / Career Counsellor % Family / Friend % Referred by adult high school, NSCC, Community Learning Organization % Referred by Department of Community Services % School Guidance Counsellor % Website - Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) % Other % Response Total P age

9 Continuation of Adult Learner Survey Responses How long have you been out of public school before beginning this program? (check one) RESPONSE % Less than 2 years % 2 to 5 years % 6 to 10 years % 11 to 20 years % More than 20 years % Not sure % Response Total 3290 What was the last grade you completed in public school? (check one) RESPONSE % Primary to grade % Grade % Grade % Grade % Grade % Grade % Grade % Grade % Completed grade % No school 5 0.2% Not sure % Other % Did not respond % Response Total 3284 What are your main sources of income while attending this program? (check one) RESPONSE % Band - First Nation % Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) % Department of Community Services (income assistance) % Disability Pension % Employed FULL-time (more than 30 hrs/wk) % Employed PART-time (less than 30 hrs/wk) % Employment Nova Scotia (Skills Development) % Self-employed % Seniors' Pension % Spousal / Child Support % Workers' Compensation % None - receiving no income % Response Total P age

10 Continuation of Adult Learner Survey Responses Have you been diagnosed with any of the following disabilities? (check all that apply) RESPONSE % Attention Deficit (ADD / ADHD) % Hearing impaired / Deaf % Learning disability % Mental health (i.e. anxiety, depression, bipolar) % Physical disability % Visually impaired % No, I do not have a disability % Other % 10 P age

11 GED TESTING The Adult Education Division administers the GED tests in Nova Scotia. Offered in Nova Scotia since 1968, the GED is an international high school equivalency testing program for adults. It consists of a series of five tests in the areas of social studies, science, mathematics, and language skills (reading and writing). GED Testing Service in the United States produces annual statistical reports profiling GED testtakers and test outcomes in North America. After 2001, Nova Scotia s privacy laws did not allow the Division to share personal information about test-takers with GED Testing Service. As a result, Nova Scotia developed its own GED test-taker survey in order to collect demographic and statistical information. GED Test Pass Rates in Nova Scotia The GED Testing Service reported the following test outcomes for Nova Scotia in Number of test-takers: Per cent who passed: This compares to the 2009 pass rate of 50.4 per cent. GED TEST-TAKER SURVEY FINDINGS FOR 2010 GED test-takers in Nova Scotia were asked to complete a voluntary survey prior to writing the GED tests. The statistical data presented below is based on self-disclosed information from survey respondents. 2 One thousand and fifty four test-takers elected to fill out the survey. 3 Of those who completed the survey, some did not answer all of the survey questions. GED Survey Highlights Thirty-five per cent of GED test-takers said that improving their labour market prospects was the primary reason they wanted to obtain a GED. This compared to 34 per cent who wanted a GED certificate to enter post-secondary education and 30 per cent who cited personal development as their main reason. Fifty-seven per cent of GED test-takers reported that they prepared to write the test primarily by using the GED preparation book or studied on their own. Only 18 per cent said that they prepared mostly by taking a preparation course. The number of GED test takers who completed grade 9 or less has increased slightly since The percentages may not add up to exactly 100 per cent because of rounding. 3 This number includes those who wrote the GED more than once in P age

12 GED TEST-TAKER SURVEY FINDINGS YEAR 2010 Gender RESPONSE % Male % Female % First language RESPONSE % English % French 11 1% Other 15 1% Age RESPONSE % 19 years old 83 8% years old % years old % years old % years old 99 10% years old % years old 98 9% 60+ years old 13 1% Last year completed in school RESPONSE % Grade 8 or less 99 9% Grade % Grade % Grade % Grade 12 (partial completion) % Degree or diploma completion 7 1% Some community college 22 2% Some university 2 0% Did not answer 19 2% # of years out of school RESPONSE % 1 year ago 49 5% 2 years ago 87 8% 3 to 5 years ago % 6 to 10 years ago % 11 to 20 years ago % 21+ years ago % Did not answer 15 1% 12 P age

13 Continuation of GED Test-taker findings Distance travelled RESPONSE % 1-10 km % km % km % km % More than 100 km 88 8% Did not answer 47 4% Amount of preparation time RESPONSE % 0 hours 21 2% 1-10 hours % hours % hours % More than 100 hours % Did not answer 35 3% Reasons for writing the GED RESPONSE % Enter community/private career college % Personal satisfaction/achievement % Obtain better job % Re-enter workforce 87 8% Other 9 1% Learned about the GED RESPONSE % Family/Friend % Adult Education Program % Employment/Career Counsellor % Teacher 66 6% Website 54 5% Employer 42 4% School Guidance Counsellor 38 4% Did not answer 91 9% How test-takers prepared RESPONSE % GED preparation book % Adult learning program % Studied on my own % Took a course prior to test % Tutor 89 6% Online practice tests 77 5% Workplace program 30 2% Enrolled in other GED program 0 0% 13 P age

14 Appendix A Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) Service Delivery Partners P age

15 NSSAL SERVICE DELIVERY PARTNERS COMMUNITY LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS Cape Breton Region Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County Community Learning Association North of Smokey Metro Region Bedford Sackville Learning Network Metroworks (Cunard Learning Centre) Dartmouth Learning Network Solutions Learning Centre (Dartmouth Work Activity Society) Eastern Shore Musquodoboit Valley Literacy Network Halifax Community Learning Network Western HRM Community Learning Network Northern Region Colchester Adult Learning Association Cumberland Adult Network for Upgrading Pictou County Continuous Learning Association East Hants Adult Learning Association Southwestern Region Lunenburg County Adult Learning Network Queens County Learning Network Shelburne County Learning Network Yarmouth County Learning Network Strait Region Antigonish County Adult Learning Association Guysborough County Adult Learning Association Inverness County Literacy Council Richmond County Literacy Network Port Hawkesbury Literacy Council Valley Region Digby Area Learning Association Hants Learning Network Association Valley Community Learning Association Other Communities Acadian: Équipe d alphabétisation Nouvelle-Écosse African-Canadian: Black Educators Association, Preston Area Learning Skills Society Deaf: Deaf Literacy Nova Scotia Association Aboriginal: Mi kmaq Native Friendship Centre, Literacy Network Unama ki (Eskasoni), We koqma q First Nation, Bear River First Nation, Chapel Island First Nation PARTICIPATING REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS Annapolis Valley Regional School Board Kings County Adult High School (New Minas) Windsor Adult High School Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board Glace Bay Adult Education Centre Sydney Adult Education Centre New Waterford Adult Education Centre Northside Adult Education Centre (Sydney Mines) Chignecto-Central Regional School Board Chignecto-Central Adult High School Locations: Truro, New Glasgow, Amherst, Elmsdale Halifax Regional School Board Flexible Learning and Education Centres (FLECs) Locations: Bedford, St. Patrick s Alexander and Citadel High School (Halifax), Forsyth Centre (Dartmouth) South Shore Regional School Board South Shore Innovative Learning Centre Locations: Bridgewater and Lunenburg Tri-County Regional School Board Digby Adult High School Yarmouth Adult High School COLLEGES/CAMPUSES Nova Scotia Community College Campus Locations (ALP programming delivered) Akerley, Annapolis Valley, Burridge, Cumberland, Kingstec, Institute of Technology, Lunenburg, Marconi, Pictou, Shelburne, Strait Area, Truro, Waterfront Université Sainte Anne Campus Locations (FGA programming delivered) Pointe-de-l Église, Halifax, Petit-de-Grat, St-Joseph-du- Moine,Tusket 15 P age

16 Appendix B NSSAL Adult Learner Survey 16 P age

17 NSSAL ADULT LEARNER SURVEY All learners enrolled in the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) programs must complete this survey. All questions require a response. Personal information collected in this survey will be kept confidential and only used in summary form in keeping with privacy legislation. Responses will be compiled by the Adult Education Division of the Department of Labour and Workforce Development. The information collected will be used to improve programs and services for all adult learners. 1. Please provide your name or student ID#: 2. What month did you start the program? (check one) o September o October o November o December o January o February o March o April o May o June o July o August 3. Determining which delivery partner they are attending (check one): At which Community Learning Organization are you attending? At which Adult High School are you attending? At which Nova Scotia Community College are you attending? At which Université Sainte-Anne are you attending? 4. What program level are you in? (check one) o Adult Learning Program LEVEL I o Adult Learning Program LEVEL II o Adult Learning Program LEVEL III o Adult Learning Program LEVEL IV Or for Adult High School o Grade 10 o Grade 11 o Grade What style of learning? (check one) o Classroom style o Tutor style 6. Which best describes your age? (check one) o under 19 years old o 19 years old o 20 years old o 21 years old o years old o years old o years old o years old o years old o years old o 65 years or older 7. What is your gender? (check one) o Female o Male 8. Which one best describes why you are taking the adult learning program? (check one) o Enter college or university o Improve reading/writing/math/computer skills o Obtain a better job o Obtain a high school diploma o Personal development o To enter the workforce o To prepare for GED (equivalent to high school diploma) Other, please specify If you are enrolled in another adult learning program, please specify the name of the school / organization: 17 P age

18 9. Which best describes what SKILLS you want to improve? (check all that apply) o Computer skills o Math skills o Reading skills o Science skills o Second language skills o Writing skills Other, please specify 10. What is your first language? (language first spoken at home) o American Sign Language o English o French o Mi'kmaq Other, please specify 11. Do you belong to any of the following groups? o Acadian o African-Canadian o First Nations o Hearing impaired / Deaf o No, I do not belong to any of these groups Other, please specify 12. What best describes how you found out about this program? (check all that apply) o Advertisement o Employment / Career counsellor o Family / Friend o Referred by Adult High School, NSCC, Community Learning Organization o Referred by Department of Community Services o School guidance counselor o Website - Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) Other, please specify 13. How long have you been out of PUBLIC SCHOOL before beginning this program? (check one) o Less than 2 years o 2 to 5 years o 6 to 10 years o 11 to 20 years o more than 20 years o Not sure 14. What was the last GRADE you COMPLETED in public school? (check one) o Primary to Grade 5 o Grade 6 o Grade 7 o Grade 8 o Grade 9 o Grade 10 o Grade 11 o Grade 12 o completed Grade 12 (high school diploma) o Not sure Other, please specify 15. What are your main sources of income while attending this program? (check one) o Band - First Nation o Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) o Department of Community Services (income assistance) o Disability Pension o Employed FULL-time (more than 30 hrs/wk) o Employed PART-time (less than 30 hrs/wk) o Employment Nova Scotia (Skills Development) o Self-employed o Seniors' Pension o Spousal / Child Support o Workers' compensation o None - receiving no income Other, please specify 16. Have you been diagnosed (received a doctor's letter/report) with any of the following disabilities? (check all that apply) o Attention Deficit (ADD / ADHD) o Hearing impaired / Deaf o Learning disability o Mental health (i.e. anxiety, depression, bipolar) o Physical disability o Visually impaired o No, I do not have a disability Other, please specify 18 P age

19 Appendix C GED Test-taker Survey 19 P age

20 2010 GED SURVEY The information you provide in this survey will assist the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Department of Labour and Workforce Development in planning programs for adult learners. All information collected by the Department is confidential and will not be disclosed. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and will not impact your test results. Please check below if you do not want to participate. I will not participate in the survey. Test Date Testing Location 1. What is your first language? (Choose one that applies) O English O French O Other: 2. Gender O Female O Male 3. Age O 19 years old O years old O years old O years old O years old O years old O years old O 60+ years old 6. What are your reasons for writing the GED tests? (Choose one that applies) O Enter Community/Private Career College O Obtain a better job O Re-enter workforce O Personal satisfaction /achievement O Other: 7. How did you first learn about the GED tests? (Choose one that applies)) O Employer O Family/Friend O School guidance counsellor O Teacher O Website O Adult Education Program O Employment/Career Counsellor O Other: 4. State the last year you attended public school. (Choose one that applies) O 1 year ago O 2 years ago O 3 to 5 years ago O 6 to 10 years ago O 11 to 20 years ago O 21+ years ago 5. Last grade of education attended. (Choose one that applies) O Grade 8 or less O Grade 9 O Grade 10 O Grade 11 O Grade 12 (partial completion) O Some community college O Some university O Degree or diploma completion 8. How did you prepare for the GED Tests? (Mark all answers that apply) O Used GED preparation book O Studied on my own O Tutor O Adult Learning Program O Workplace Program O Enrolled in other GED preparation program O Used online practice test 9. How many hours did you spend preparing for the GED Tests? (Choose one that applies) O 0 hours O 1-10 hours O hours O hours O more than 100 hours 20 P age

21 10. How far did you travel to the GED testing location? (Choose one that applies) O 1 10 km O km O km O km O more than 100 km Do you have any additional comments to share 21 P age