Literacy is the ability to understand and use printed material at work, at home, and in the community -- to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential.
(International Adult Literacy Survey 1996)
Kinds of Literacy
Prose literacy is the ability to understand and use information from texts, such as newspapers, magazines or novels.
Document literacy is the ability to find and use information from documents such as job applications, maps or loan forms.
Numeracy is the ability to apply arithmetic operations such as balancing a chequebook or figuring out a tip.
What are Literacy Rates in Atlantic Canada?
In 1996 and 2003 Canada took part in the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). The survey found that half of Atlantic Canadians have literacy skills at levels one and two. They have difficulty reading food and drug labels. They may not be able to read the materials required to do their job safely.