Ontario. Independent Learning Centre

• Independent Learning Centre

• Ontario. Correspondence Courses Branch

• Ontario. Correspondence Courses Section

• Ontario. Correspondence Courses Division

• Ontario. Correspondence Services Section

• Ontario. Correspondence Education Branch

• Ontario. Correspondence Education

The Independent Learning Centre (ILC) provides free distance education programs in English and French for Ontario residents to enable them to obtain credits towards elementary graduation or high school diplomas, to upgrade basic (literacy and numeracy) skills, or to study for personal development. Included is an elementary program for children unable to attend school. The ILC also develops its own course material, some of which is sold to other provinces.

The ILC was founded in 1926 when the Ontario Department of Education established the Correspondence Courses Program to provide elementary education for children living in isolated areas of northern Ontario. In its first year, the program had only 75 students. The same year, the Railway School Car Program began to serve those who lived along the railway lines. The programs had a common objective - to bring education to children in isolated communities. By the 1950s, a complete secondary school program was available through Correspondence Courses. Adults, who were attracted by the flexible nature of the program, enrolled in increasing numbers and have since become the ILC's predominant client group.

In 1984, the Correspondence Education section of the Educational Technology Development Division, Ministry of Education, was renamed Independent Learning Centre (ILC). The ILC originally consisted of three units: Program Planning and Development, Educational Services, and French Language Services (which had an office in Sudbury as well as Toronto). By 1986, Research Development was added (renamed Research Communications and Technology in 1990), and then in January 1987 the Independent Learning Centre was upgraded to branch-level status and became a component of the Learning Programs Division.

In 1989, Operations was created as a section of the ILC. In 1992, Finance and Administration was formed and the Centre also moved to the new Education Programs and Services Division. When the Ministry of Education was subsumed into the new Ministry of Education and Training the ILC became a branch of the new Open Learning and Training Division.

When the Ministry of Education was reformed in 1999, the ILC remained with it until April 1, 2002 when it was transferred to TVO as part of the government's commitment to enhancing lifelong learning through the creation of a distance education network in Ontario.

Provides free distance education programs in English and French for Ontario residents.

Mandate from Ontario Ministry of Education

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

http://www.ilc.org/about/our_mandate.php; TRIM 08/E10496

Archivist(s):
Jensen