The survey results did reveal a significant disparity in financial support between individuals who qualified for a branch of government sponsorship and those who were not eligible. Do students with government support achieve more of their educational goals? Why? Is there a gap that exists between individuals who receive support from government agencies than those who do not? What measures could be taken to close that gap? How do students without supports bridge the gap to achieve success too? Can eligibility requirements be revisited? The financial advantages of a more literate population outweigh the cost of educational interventions (Bloom et al) so it stands to reason that some branches of federal or provincial governments need to invest resources into sponsoring more adults in their pursuit of higher education.
It could be valuable to be able to compare provincial data to national values as well. How do the issues related to the financial and social costs of adult learning compare to national averages and international statistics? Are the larger questions related to goalsetting and cost-versus-reward universal issues or are they specific to this country? How different is the situation in this province?
This research project limited participation to individuals enrolled in day programs. Adult Education classes are also offered at night. Night classes historically have a lower attrition rate and students are enrolled for longer periods of time to achieve a goal. The majority of students who participate in night classes are working full-time — either employed outside the home or inside the home with children and who cannot make adequate arrangements for childcare. These students would have a different perspective on the costs associated to learning and could perhaps infuse valuable input into why and how to achieve their goals using an alternate method to full-time study. In addition, night students most often do not qualify for government agency support. Does this affect their learning? How? Presumably, individuals who attend classes two evenings per week and work during the day would not have a great deal of free time. What are the social costs for these learners? How is the cost versus reward ratio different for night students compared to day students?