ILLITERACY COSTS CANADA, INDIVIDUALS

TORONTO STAR SEPTEMBER 27T H 2009

Marie-Claude Cormier

Tanya Bock

Kristi

Section 1

ACCORDING TO THE CANADIAN COUNCIL ON LEARNINGALMOST HALF (48%) OF

CANADIAN ADULTS HAVE LOW LITERACY SKILLS.

12 Million people in this country are below the

internationally accepted standard for coping in a

modern society.

• An individual at this level may be unable to determine from a package label the correct amount of medicine to give a child

Level 1 Very poor literacy

skills

• People at this level may develop everyday coping skills, but find it hard to conquer challenges such has learning new job skills.

Level 2Capacity to deal with simple and clear material

• This is about the same sill level needed to finish high school and enter college or university.

Level 3 Adequate to cope with demands of everyday life and work in advance

society.• Individual at this level can

process information of a complex and demanding nature.

Level 4 & 5Strong skills

ACCORDING TO ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT THE 5 LEVELS

OF LITERACY ARE

20 % of university graduate have literacy level skills below level 3 !!!

Overall rates are not expected to improve by 2031 ( Because of

population growth) Canada will see the number of adult with low literacy skills increase from 12 million to 15

million

Paul Cappon ( council president) says it’s a myth that adult literacy

will improve as more adults acquire a higher education.

Here is what we need to do to Improve Canada's literacy

3. Strengthen research investment. We need to improe our understanding of Canada's approach to adult learning

and establish clear benchmarks and objectives.

2. Recognize that work and family put great demands on time and resources. Adults wont participate in learning

unless we create conditions that work for them.

1. Increase the premium on adult learning. Efforts to promote learning typically focus on preparing youths for the labor market. But adults also need to equip them to

meet the changing demands of the economy

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