Should literacy be a high policy priority?

The consultation received little input on priority. Most participants implied through their remarks that greater priority must be paid to literacy policy in government.

Some comments indicated that government decision makers need to understand the large payoff to individuals, the economy and society from gains in literacy levels.

How should we measure progress of the literacy strategy? How will we know that actions taken to raise and maintain literacy levels have been effective?

There was brief but significant input on measuring the progress of the strategy.

• Suggestions for meaningful data regarding learners included:
  • Results of the international literacy surveys
  • Progress related to learner-centred goals
  • The number of adults accessing literacy programming
  • ALC graduation rates
  • The number of Mature Student Diplomas granted
  • The number of GED completions
  • Successful transitions to post secondary levels of education
  • Sustainable employment successes from the EI/EIA funded client base who received literacy training.
• One submission called for external evaluation of programs based on government criteria.
• One submission called for a yearly statistical report on progress.
• Many of the presenters assumed that the dialogue on evaluation of the strategy would continue after the provincial adult literacy strategy was announced.