There are clear social benefits associated with increased literacy skills in areas of health, justice and social cohesion/cultural inclusion, personal empowerment, and active citizenship. For example:

• Health and literacy are related. Research indicates a strong relationship between a person’s literacy level and his/her physical well-being. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has stated that higher literacy and numeracy levels help to reduce demands on the health systems, which is important as countries struggle to finance the cost of providing health services.
• There are also significant relationships between literacy and the justice system. Evidence suggests that increases in literacy levels may act to reduce crime levels.
• Many Manitobans who are clients of the social services system require personal support as well as literacy development. In the long term, addressing literacy needs should support reductions to the costs associated with social services.

Responding to the Literacy Challenge

The government of Manitoba is concerned about the adult literacy challenge in the province. In order to stimulate renewed action, it has passed legislation, The Adult Literacy Act, which requires the development of a provincial adult literacy strategy to address the literacy needs of all citizens of Manitoba.

The Act also establishes the Manitoba Adult Literacy Program (MALP) as a component of the strategy. MALP is the government’s commitment to providing ongoing support for agencies that offer programs for adults seeking to improve their literacy skills. Improved literacy skills enable adults to have the ability to better understand and employ printed information in daily activities at work, in their community and in their family life.

The provincial adult literacy strategy will be the platform for the focus and commitment of the government’s action on literacy. It will also outline potential roles for community and industry partners.