The results of this section were not as clear as the previous questions. For example, anyone who was actually receiving EI benefits should have indicated “EI part” for loss of wages — only 17 of a possible 108 answered this way. Holland College’s Adult Education records indicate that at least 60% of our learners are EI eligible each year. Many people indicated that EI is covering full or part of their school supply and food costs. This is not an EI policy, so it is likely that the question was misunderstood and the participants are actually allocating a portion of their EI income to cover these costs in their household.
Participants listed spousal income, personal savings, pension/disability insurance and
Child Tax Benefit as other forms of financial support. In addition, 20 respondents reported
working an average of 20.4 hours per week (answers ranged from 3 hours to 40 hours per week).
Seven respondents shared that they had borrowed money to return to school. While the average
amount was $4 300, answers ranged from $1 000 to $500/month to
$12 000. Four respondents
reported saving an average of $1 050 to attend Adult Education.
Adult Education students were asked to think about and comment on how returning to school had an impact on the non-financial, or social, areas of their lives. In open-ended questions, they were asked to comment on these non-financial issues.
Participants were questioned on how the amount of time spent and how the quality of the time spent with their family had changed since enrolling in Adult Education. 33 respondents (30.6%) reported a decrease in both the time and quality of family life since returning to school. 24 people (22.2%) reported a decrease in the amount of time, but increase in quality of time spent with family. 16 individuals (15%) reported an increase in both time and quality of family life since deciding to upgrade their education. 31 people (28.7%) did not report changes in either the time or quality of family life.