Federal Literacy Facts an update on literacy-related developments at the national level Movement for Canadian Literacy May 2005 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey Some ALL Highlights shakes things up! ¾ 42% of Canadians do not have the literacy The much-anticipated Adult Literacy and Life skills they need to meet the demands of Skills (ALL) Survey, released by Statistics Canada today’s society. on May 11, sheds light on Canada's literacy challenges. ¾ There are fewer Canadians in the lowest literacy level (level 1) – 15% today According to the ALL survey, too many (four in compared with 17% in 1994. There are ten) Canadian adults do not have the literacy skills also fewer Canadians at the highest levels they need to meet the ever increasing demands of (level 4/5). However, these changes are our information-based economy and society. The not considered statistically significant. survey found that 9 million of Canada’s 21 million ¾ Average literacy scores have not changed working age Canadians rank below level 3 on significantly since 1994, except for the literacy tests - the level most experts say is average score of the bottom 5%, which necessary to meet everyday literacy challenges in improved significantly (up 50 points). the modern world. ¾ Low literacy undermines success in the The survey is generating media attention and labour market. Less literate Canadians public discussion. Since the release, literacy has earn less, and if unemployed, they’re been covered on the front pages and editorial unemployed for longer periods of time. sections of many of Canada’s daily newspapers as well as on radio and TV. Along with the coverage ¾ People who need training the most are have come questions. What do the statistics really least likely to access it. Government and business still tend to invest in training for mean? Why do the numbers matter? What are the policy solutions? those who are already highly educated. ¾ 35% of youth between the ages of 16 and Release leads to diverse response 25 score below level 3. MCL, and others in the literacy community, used ¾ Parents' education level has a significant the release as an opportunity to press for concrete impact on their children’s skill level. action, especially action on a pan-Canadian Canadian youth aged 16-25 who had literacy strategy. The media demanded parents with little or no education scored explanations, but also highlighted the need for lower on average in 2003 than similar action. The reported response from federal youth surveyed in 1994. officials was that the issues surrounding our ¾ Literacy skills erode if not used regularly. literacy challenges are complex and the solutions th elusive. Others raised questions about the ¾ Canada ranks 4 of the countries compared intricacies of how the survey was conducted. in this study: behind Norway, Switzerland, and Bermuda but ahead of the USA, Italy (continued on page 2) and also the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. Federal Literacy Facts May 2005 page 2 (continued from page 1) The ALL survey: What’s Next? Still others, like coordinators of the Festival of In the coming months, MCL will work with the Literacies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in community to determine how best to ensure that Education (OISE), used the survey as a launch ALL findings support grass roots advances on point to create an inventive booklet that literacy. We’ll ask important questions about how encourages the community and learners to “ask we should use and apply the lessons learned from our own questions” about literacy. (See http:// ALL to help shape policy directions that truly www.literaciesoise.ca/IALLSActivityBooklet.pdf) support the field and support learners. We’ll also gear up for phase two. In the Fall and The stakes are high Winter of 2005, the next phase of data will be Regardless of the differing perspectives that released. This will include a much anticipated literacy community members and others bring to national snapshot that will dig deeper into the the debate about the ALL survey, one thing is Canadian statistics (late October), and also clear – the findings have enormous potential to provincial/territorial releases that will provide influence public policies around literacy in regional analyses (mid-December). Statistics Canada. What’s more, the release of the ALL Canada has renamed these upcoming releases the survey comes at a time when the stakes are high. IALSS (International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey). The federal budget allotted $30 million in new funds to the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) and committed the government to action on a For more information on ALL comprehensive literacy strategy. With a minority p government in Ottawa struggling to pass the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey: budget and hang onto power, an election certain Learning a Living (full report): within the next year, and a new Minister at the http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc head of HRSDC (see page 3), we need to work ?catno=89-603-XWE hard to ensure that these budget commitments remain intact. Statistics Canada Daily (summary report): http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050511/d0 In this regard, ALL may be the wake-up call that 50511b.htm our leaders at the national and provincial/territorial level need to inspire action. Blueprints for action HRSD presentation on key ALL findings: on literacy, based on widespread input, have been http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/all2003/cover.htm developed by the Movement for Canadian Literacy and also by an all-party parliamentary MCL’s background material and press release: Standing Committee. The ALL survey may give http://www.literacy.ca/all/all.htm our leaders cause to revisit these blueprints and to ABC CANADA’s background material: take leadership in coordinating a nation-wide http://www.abc-canada.org/ response. The findings may also initiate discussions with our partners in the voluntary and Commentary on the ALL methodology: social development communities, as the survey http://www.nald.ca/WHATNEW/hdlnenws.htm helps to draw connections between literacy and a broad array of social issues, including health, Watch for more discussion on the ALL survey social equity and more. in the next issue of MCL’s literacy.ca. Movement for Canadian Literacy • 300-180 Metcalfe St., Ottawa, ON K2P 1P5 Tel: 613-563-2464 • Fax: 613-563-2504 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.literacy.ca Federal Literacy Facts May 2005 page 3 Belinda Stronach: New Minister of Canadian Council on Learning: HRSDC – and literacy Moving forward on an When federal Conservative MP Belinda Stronach ambitious agenda crossed over to the Liberal Party, she secured a The Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) seat at the Cabinet table as Minister responsible for has initiated an ambitious agenda to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada establish five Knowledge Centres (KCs) in (HRSDC). With this position, Ms. Stronach takes various regions of the country by the end of over from Lucienne Robillard and becomes the 2005. Each of the KCs will have a distinct Minister with lead responsibility for literacy. focus, including: (1) work and learning; (2) early childhood learning; (3) adult learning; Ms. Stronach is said to be conservative when it (4) aboriginal learning; and (5) health and comes to economic issues, but progressive on learning. The Council will use the KCs to social issues. We don't know yet where she stands fulfill its mandate to support a pan-Canadian on literacy. However we do know that personally learning architecture. and professionally she appears to value education and training. On the personal front, Ms. Stronach At this point, the organization of these KCs is a member of the Dean’s Council at the John F. appears to be a hybrid of regional Kennedy School of Government, Harvard representation, community collaboration University, and the Dean’s Advisory Council at and pan-Canadian vision. CCL refers to the the University of Toronto. We also know that as KCs as their “conduit to Canadians”. recently as last Fall, Ms. Stronach rose in the Although each KC represents one particular House of Commons and called for a “fix” for our learning theme and is located in a specific education and training systems. On October 8, geographic area, they are all intended to be 2004, she had this to say about the role of national centres of excellence and expertise. government in providing the right environment for competition and productivity: The Council is hosting separate development conferences for each KC. In “This environment includes tax structures April, MCL participated in the conference and support for research and development, on the Adult Learning KC in Halifax. but more important, a fix for our education Literacy was well-represented. However, and training systems to ensure that we have MCL has also made the case that literacy is the skilled and knowledgeable workforce the an issue that is cross-cutting and, as such, country needs to sustain our quality of life.” literacy stakeholders should have a seat on the advisory boards of each of the five KCs. Ms. Stronach is the MP for Newmarket – Aurora This idea of literacy as cross-cutting seems in Ontario. Along with taking on responsibility to be gaining ground. Recently, in response for HRSDC, she has been appointed Minister to the ALL survey, CCL Director Paul Responsible for Democratic Renewal. In this role, Cappon said: “Literacy is a cornerstone of she will help guide the implementation of the all aspects of learning and is therefore a recommendations that flow from the Gomery cross-cutting theme for all areas of CCL’s Commission’s final report. Prior to political life work, from early childhood learning through Ms.