Canadian Council on Learning | Conseil Canadien sur l'Apprentissage

State of Learning in Canada: No Time for Complacency

Report suggests broad and serious literacy-related problems

Jan. 26, 2007 Vancouver, B.C.—A new report suggests that Canada’s low and stagnant rates of literacy are affecting Canadians in a number of ways, from exposing seniors to dangers because they can’t understand medical advice or safety instructions, to limiting the career mobility of employees because they do not receive workplace training, to holding back the growth of the country’s economy.

“Even though we have much to be proud of in terms of learning in Canada, there are serious problems in a number of areas that must be dealt with now,” said Dr. Paul Cappon, CEO of the Canadian Council on Learning, which produced the report, titled State of Learning in Canada: No Time for Complacency.

The report, which will be published annually, is a comprehensive analysis of research on key aspects of learning in Canada, including early childhood learning, learning in school, adult learning and Aboriginal learning. A major feature of the 2007 State of Learning report is the chapter “Learning and literacy: Canada’s challenges.”

“Canada is facing some fundamental problems with literacy,” said Cappon. “Many people think of literacy as an on/off switch, that you either are or aren’t literate. But in Canada, four in 10 adults have levels of literacy too low to participate fully in today’s economy.” Cappon pointed to examples of people who are able to read and write, but not able to complete a job application or understand directions on a prescription drug label.

“Learning and Literacy” highlights a number of concerns:

• While the literacy skills of workers are known to be economic drivers for countries, Canada’s overall rate of literacy did not improve between 1994 and 2003
• Canada lags behind other countries in providing workplace training
• One in four children enters kindergarten with a learning or behavioural problem
• Many Canadians are unable to understand the information necessary to deal with their own health, and nearly nine out of 10 older Canadians lack the health literacy skills they need
• Literacy in many Aboriginal languages is in jeopardy

“Whether you are discussing individual success, economic growth, or social development, literacy is imperative. If we want to give Canadians access to opportunities for personal fulfilment and give our economy the fuel to continue and augment growth and innovation, we must have an increased national focus on literacy,” said Cappon.

The report provides suggestions and recommendations for government, business, labour, educators, and individuals to improve literacy and skills, as well as setting out a research agenda for the Council.

“Literacy is a shared responsibility, and all sectors must pitch in to make literacy and skills a public policy priority,” said Cappon.

The full report is available at www.ccl-cca.ca/solr.

Note: Additional State of Learning in Canada news releases are available on Aboriginal learning and on health literacy.

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The Canadian Council on Learning is an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded through an agreement with Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Its mandate is to promote and support evidence-based decisions about learning throughout all stages of life, from early childhood through to the senior years.

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