Identification problems
In his report on the lack of access to French-language postsecondary education in CSO,60 the Commissioner observed that government data is incomplete because it covers rights-holders only. He noted the importance of improving data collection by identifying people likely to pursue postsecondary education in French in Ontario.
Excerpts from recommendations in the 2012 investigation report on the lack of access to French-language postsecondary education in CSO
(…) [T]he Commissioner recommends that the government take the necessary steps to shift away from the current method of data collection based (…) only on rights-holders (…). This includes (…) gathering data on (…) immersion students, those who belong to exogamous and allophone households, as well as Francophiles.
The Commissioner recommends that the government use the Ontario Education Number (OEN) (…) from early learning to postsecondary and beyond. The OEN should also be amended to include language-based questions. This should preferably be based on multiple questions or indicators, rather than a single-factor indicator (e.g., language of instruction OR language of communication OR mother tongue…).61
In the same vein, he also suggested using the Ontario Education Number (OEN) assigned to students when they enter the Ontario school system to improve data collection. First of all, however, the OEN has no information on the student’s language. Second, the student keeps the same OEN throughout his or her education until the postsecondary level, when another student number is assigned.
Obviously, this challenge causes headaches for tracking students or conducting studies of enrolment and enrolment trends between the various levels of schooling.
60. Op. cit., note 58.
61. Ibid., pp. 3-5.