They may be working their way out of difficult circumstances or upgrading in order to retain their jobs or move ahead. Some rely on ILC courses while in training or away for international competition in sports or performances in the arts. Some Ontario families rely on ILC while temporarily living abroad or travelling for an extended period. Many of these Ontarians have little voice to question the impact of the announced changes. Sixty per cent of ILC s students are women, often combining their studies with raising their children.
Some learners live in isolated areas, work shifts, or are otherwise unable to access day schools.
Some learners are recent immigrants, eager to study Ontario courses while working to establish their new lives. The Francophone population in Ontario relies on ILC, which offers courses in French and in English. The announcement made no commitment to continue to meet Francophone needs and did not demonstrate how this could be done better outside the Ministry of Education. Mobility limitations or environmental sensitivities, for example, may make distance education the only option for a learner. ILC builds flexibility into its services, in order to accommodate these learners.