New Paper By Express Employment Professionals Shows How The Education System is Failing To Prepare Canada’s Workers
2020 has been anything but normal for students and teachers with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as some schools across the country prepare to resume classes virtually, a new white paper from Express Employment Professionals explores why now is the time to revolutionize the education system.
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The white paper, entitled A Canadian Education Revolution: Aligning Classroom and Careers, dives deeper into a survey commissioned by Express in conjunction with The Harris Poll that revealed nearly 9 in 10 employees (89%) agree a whole new approach to education, skills training and learning—an “education revolution”—is needed to prepare people for the workforce. And of those employees, 33% “strongly agree” with that sentiment.
The key challenges survey respondents identified include:
- The gap between skills needed and skills taught
- The lack of work study or earn-and-learn opportunities
- The cost and utility of university and higher education
The rapid changes of this year only further revealed what was ultimately not working with the education system before the pandemic—where too many students were entering the workforce unprepared for the jobs available to them. This unwanted disruption is a challenge but also an opportunity to refocus curriculum on what Canadians say matters for their careers.
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Regardless of whether government policy changes are made to address these concerns, it is critical for everyone—employers, educators, policymakers and more—to have a clearer understanding of employees’ relationship with and perspectives on the education system, as well as what each can do in response.
Other notable topics in the white paper include:
- Feelings of preparation to handle aspects of work
- Combining education and experience
- Accessibility and affordability of university
- Lifelong learning
- Upskilling
“Historically, during difficult times is often when a society sees the most innovation. This pandemic has exposed what jobs are absolutely essential to the economy, and we need to make sure we are preparing students adequately for the workforce of today and tomorrow,” Express CEO Bill Stoller said. “Now is the time for an education revolution.”
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