Waterloo, Ontario, January 17, 2008 — Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, Mr. Harold Albrecht, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for Laubach Literacy Ontario, Inc. to incorporate essential skills into literacy instruction through the development and testing of tools with literacy volunteer tutors and adult learners.
"The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible work force in the world," said Mr. Albrecht. "I am proud today to announce funding for our partner-Laubach Literacy Ontario, located right here in Waterloo-that will help thousands of people across Canada improve their literacy and other key skills."
The Government of Canada is providing $207,688 to Laubach Literacy Ontario, Inc. to deliver a project entitled "Integrating Essential Skills in Literacy Tutor Training." The objective of this project is to train 90 literacy instructors who can help potentially more than 4,190 Canadians to upgrade their literacy and essential skills.
A higher literacy and essential skills level has a positive impact on self-esteem, health and safety. It is an important factor in helping Canadians find and maintain employment. The opportunity to use and upgrade essential skills on the job can actually help people maintain and enhance these skills long after they have completed their formal education.
Literacy and essential skills programs and activities across Canada are supported by the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as a variety of businesses and voluntary organizations. The Government of Canada welcomes the opportunity to work with partner organizations across the country to help Canadians improve their literacy skills and build better lives.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
Please visit Human Resources and Social Development Canada's Web site at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
For more information (media only):
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
BACKGROUNDER
Integrating Essential Skills in Literacy Tutor Training
The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills is the Government of Canada's centre of expertise for literacy and essential skills. The Office supports projects and builds tools that will help develop healthy families, vibrant communities and a skilled and flexible work force.
Research has shown that learners in literacy programs in Ontario want to improve their essential skills to increase their employment prospects, but current literacy training material is lacking in essential skills content.
The project Integrating Essential Skills in Literacy Tutor Training will help to address this gap. Under this project, Laubach Literacy Ontario Inc. will incorporate essential skills into literacy instruction through the development and testing of tools with literacy volunteer tutors and adult learners.
It is expected that, potentially, over 4,190 learners, or approximately 65 percent of those serviced by Laubach Literacy agencies in Canada, will be prepared for transition or advancement in the labour market by having access to literacy training using essential skills and workplace authentic material. A total of 90 literacy instructors will be trained to use and deliver essential skills in literacy instruction modules. The project being funded will also increase awareness and integration of essential skills in literacy programming and in the workplace.
Undertaken as a partnership initiative, this project will have a number of participating stakeholders including employers, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, other Laubach Literacy agencies across Canada, the National Adult Literacy Database, the Movement for Canadian Literacy and the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium.
The project is consistent with Human Resources and Social Development Canada's objective to create the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible work force in the world. Improving literacy and essential skills is key to building Canada's Knowledge Advantage.
For more information about the Office of Literacy and Essentials Skills, visit http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/workplaceskills/oles/olesindex_en.shtml.
