Independent Learning Centre
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The Independent Learning Centre offers distance education courses to Ontario residents who want to earn Ministry of Education high school diploma credits, upgrade basic skills, or study for personal development.[1] Students may earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma through ILC study and courses are available at Advanced (university preparation) level as well as at community college and workplace preparation levels.[2] ILC also offers the five examinations required for students seeking a GED high school equivalency certificate.[2]
Ministry of Education-approved elementary school courses are also available for children who are being home schooled or who are temporarily living outside of Canada.[3]
The ILC was founded in 1926 when Ontario's Department of Education established correspondence courses for elementary school children living in isolated communities in northern Ontario. A "Railway School Car Program" serving children in isolated areas but along railway lines was also established that year.[4] "The teacher and his family lived on the train car, which was part of CP Rail... They went from stop to stop, teaching the children of miners and loggers who lived in communities along the railway tracks."[5]
By the 1950s, the correspondence course program had expanded to include a complete set of secondary school courses allowing for students to receive a high school diploma entirely through distance education. [4]
The ILC serves 20,000 students a year in English and French.[6] It offers 70 high-school credit courses and four non-credit courses: basic literacy, English for newcomers and everyday reading and mathematics for adults. The fee is $40 per course for Ontario residents - courses are also available to students who permanently live outside of Ontario as well as international students permanently living outside of Canada at a fee of $500 for each full secondary school course or $1500 for an elementary school grade.[2]
The ILC has its own principal, teachers and guidance counselor.[6] In 2002, the actual operations of the ILC was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ontario Educational Communications Authority which also operates TVOntario.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Independent Learning Centre: About us
- ^ a b c ILC Course Guide, 2007
- ^ Elementary
- ^ a b c History of the ILC, Independent Learning Centre. Accessed January 28, 2008.
- ^ Catherine Patch, "Evolution from train car to online teaching; Providing courses to students flung far and wide A path to higher education through independent study", Toronto Star, November 18, 2004.
- ^ a b Carol Goar, "Secret education success story", Toronto Star, July 19, 2006
