CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Perspectives on Illiteracy

Illiteracy is a fact of life for a substantial minority of Canadian adults. In 1976, the most recent year for which relevant census data is presently available, the number of adults out of school and 15 years of age and over with fewer than 5 years of schooling was1 856,000, or 5.6% of the adult population. While caution must be exercised in using data on grade completion to indicate adult competency, various studies2 indicate that a large proportion of adults with this level of educational attainment are illiterate in the conventional sense, i.e., lack even very basic skills in reading and writing. In the same year, those with 5 to 8 years of schooling numbered 3,520,595, or 22.9% of the adult population.3 With the caveat about the nature of the data in mind, and referring to existing studies, we may suggest that although adults with this amount of schooling generally possess at least elementary literacy skills, a considerable percentage of them can be termed functionally illiterate in that they are unable to carry out more advanced reading and writing tasks that are called for in important daily activities. Taken together, the two categories of educational attainment incorporated 28.4% of the adult population of Canada in 1976.

For many of these adults, looking up a telephone number, filling out a form or reading a newspaper may be difficult or impossible. For example, an Ottawa man who spent most of his life unable to read and write, but who recently learned to do so with the help of a local literacy program, writes:

I remember when I wanted to go to Heron road one day (from Preston St.). I walked all the way because I couldn't read the bus routes and I was too embarrassed to ask the driver for assistance .... Going shopping was a pain. I always got someone to go with me because I couldn't read the labels.... I thought I was the only one in the world who couldn't read. Now that I am more aware of the problem I feel sad for the million other Canadians who can't read .... Knowing how to read affects me in a number of ways. I now have confidence and a sense of independence because I don't have to rely as heavily on others around me.4