News

Ontario is facing a shortage of credentialed workers in childcare and educational support roles. In response, many daycares and schools temporarily hire people lacking the required or preferred educational credentials. This situation leaves many current employees under pressure to earn a credential if they want to continue working in these fields.  

To address the need for credentialed employees in pre-kindergarten, primary and secondary education, ONCAT awarded $75,000 to Fanshawe College via an ONCAT Capacity Grant — a funding program that supports the development and implementation of learner-centric policies, practices and pathways at publicly assisted postsecondary institutions in Ontario. ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario.   

The Quality Partnerships team at Fanshawe had a great idea: they could leverage prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) to help workers in childcare and education get credentialed faster. PLAR offers learners the opportunity to earn credit for courses based on demonstration of prior learning usually acquired through study, work and other life experiences. To make this possible, though, Fanshawe would need to make PLAR work more efficiently.  

In Ontario colleges, learners typically submit extensive PLAR applications for one course at a time. The institution assesses whether the learner can demonstrate the competencies covered by each course. This approach requires a lot of labour for applicants because each application may include numerous assessments, such as a portfolio review, an exam and an interview. As a result, not many learners apply for PLAR, which means lost opportunities for learners and programs. This was the case at Fanshawe.    

The project team sought to create an improved approach to PLAR that would make it easier for learners with workforce experience to get credit for their skills and knowledge. The improved approach would assess whether the learner can demonstrate the competencies covered by the entire program, instead of a single course. By making it quicker and easier to apply, learners save time and money. The result is a shorter and more streamlined program that doesn't ask them to repeat what they already know.  

With funding from ONCAT, Fanshawe created a PLAR process that grants credit toward the early childhood education and educational support programs. To create this process, the team worked with employers to understand the core competencies required for working in the sector and with faculty and staff to ensure that the learning outcomes of courses and programs aligned with the core competencies identified by employers. Together, they connected course learning outcomes with program outcomes and vocational skills. From this mapping exercise, they developed a rigorous assessment and evaluation process that includes a self-assessment, challenge exam, portfolio and an interview. The new PLAR assessment model recognizes workers’ on-the-job learning and grants credit for up to 75% of a two-year diploma.  

Speaking about the Educational Support diploma, Lisa Wells, Manager of Continuing Education and Contract Training at the Woodstock/Oxford Regional Campus, says, “The ONCAT Capacity Grant has enabled us to create a PLAR process for the entire program that is a huge advantage for our part-time students. Many of our part-time students are currently working in the field as uncertified educational assistants. The PLAR project has made it possible for them to fast track their program.” 

Since the program has been implemented, learners can submit a single PLAR application to be considered for multiple courses. This saves learners significant time preparing an application. Thanks to this project, learners are saving money and time in their program and expanding their employment stability and flexibility. 

Plus, the project is having a meaningful impact on learners’ lives. As one current student says, “This program has made it possible for me to complete the ECE program. I have worked in this field for 20 years, but I was unsure if I would ever be able to complete my diploma. This program was a great opportunity to have my years of experience and the knowledge I had gained to be put toward my diploma, making it possible for me to become a registered early childhood educator.”   

The new PLAR assessment has allowed employees to earn their credential in half the time normally required. By allowing eligible workers to apply through a single application, the college has demonstrated that a streamlined PLAR process can be a great option for programs that support in-demand careers that require professional registration. In the pilot program, Fanshawe admitted five students who received up to a year’s worth of courses, saving them a year of tuition fees.  

Fanshawe will continue offering the new PLAR assessment for the early childhood education and educational support diploma programs, with plans to expand it to other in-demand fields. Additionally, they are currently developing a comprehensive toolkit for faculty to scale up this initiative across the college. 

This project impact was created by Meryl Borato. For questions, contact engagement@oncat.ca