Adults

Illiteracy and literacy

Potential solutions

 

Everyone has to work together to defeat illiteracy and its impact. Without the participation of individuals, community organizations, companies and governments, the situation will never change.

Here are some potential solutions to be considered immediately:

  • Encourage corporate basic training.

At the time of the IALSS in 2003, 54% of adults with very low reading proficiency (Level 1) and 68% of adults with low proficiency (Level 2) were employed.

Main benefits of investing in basic training in the workplace:

    • Better job opportunities (prerequisite for access to lifelong learning)
    • Greater effectiveness at work
    • Greater competitiveness
    • More dynamic, enthusiastic workforce
    • Greater productivity
    • Stronger economy
    • Better occupational health and safety record
    • Higher retention levels (employees and clients)

     

  • Facilitate knowledge transfer from workers nearing retirement to employees of all ages.
  • Work with families to keep children in school and prevent illiteracy.
  • Give young people from underprivileged backgrounds the means to study.
  • Enhance access to education for Aboriginal people.


Sources

Développer nos compétences en littératie : un défi porteur d’avenir, Rapport québécois de l’Enquête internationale sur l’alphabétisation et les compétences des adultes (EIACA) (Developing Our Literacy Skills: Meeting the Challenge of the Future, International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey [IALSS]—Quebec Report), 2003, Quebec City, Institut de la statistique du Québec, 256 pages.

 

The 1% law: fostering the development and recognition of skilled manpower.

Why invest 1% in training?

  • Raising workforce skill levels to foster employment
  • Adjustment and entry into employment
  • Impact on the shortage of manpower
  • Positive impact on economic growth
  • Greater value given to corporate training

What does the 1% law refer to?
The 1% law refers to the obligation to invest at least 1% of payroll in workforce training in a given calendar year. Companies which fail to do this have to pay an equivalent amount into a provincial fund to support the development of workforce training—the Fonds national de formation de la main-d’œuvre. This legislation applies only to firms whose annual payroll is $1 million or more.