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Post-secondary education (PSE) contributes significantly to the well-being of individuals and their communities. The health of Canadians, their open-mindedness and tolerance of social diversity, as well as their likelihood of volunteering, voting and actively participating in their communities are closely tied to their level of education.
The benefits are clear. Healthy individuals make fewer demands of the health and social welfare systems. Productive and engaged Canadians, living in stable communities with low crime rates, generate vibrant economies and societies; businesses often look for these characteristics when deciding on new locations. Similarly, skilled workers in high demand choose to work and live in countries and communities that are safe, culturally vibrant and ethnically diverse.
One of the worrisome trends in the evolving knowledge-based economy is that the gap between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' in Canada is widening. Those with low levels of literacy, education and job skills are being left behind. Approximately 40% of Canadians lack the essential skills they need to get by in the new economy, leaving them at increased risk of unemployment and exclusion. Canada’s economic success cannot be isolated from its social success. To enable more individuals to enjoy the social and economic benefits of PSE, and to create stronger communities and a stronger economy, advanced learning opportunities must be available at various stages of life. The development of 'learning communities' will be integral to achieving these goals.
Learning communities support individuals by providing opportunities for personal and professional fulfilment that enrich their lives. Such opportunities can be formal or informal, ranging from basic skills and literacy training to college and university education. Ultimately, learning communities provide people with the building blocks necessary to enhance their well-being and, by extension, the well-being of the society and the economy to which they contribute as active, engaged members. Learning communities can play a pivotal role in reducing the gap between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' through their creation of social benefits, or 'social capital.'
Social capital includes the factors that affect the quality of life of individuals and communities– everything from employment rates, productivity, crime rates, teenage pregnancies, civic engagement, charitable giving, stronger social cohesion and appreciation of diversity, to healthier lifestyles. During an address to the 2004 Dublin Meeting of the OECD Education Ministers, Robert Putnam stated that, “For any government concerned to increase social capital and social cohesion, the educational process is the single most important and effective policy lever.”[1] He concluded that the single best predictor of high social capital is years of formal education.
To produce healthy, active citizens and support learning communities, Canada must define the objectives that will enhance social capital through post-secondary education and training, as well as the indicators that will measure the progress made toward achieving those objectives. Canada's performance in this area should be benchmarked and tracked over time to allow broader international comparisons.
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[1] Putnam, R. (2004). Education, Diversity, Social Cohesion and Social Capital. Note for discussion, Raising the Quality of Learning for All. Meeting of OECD Education Ministers, March 18-19 Dublin.
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