Literacy Facts

There are many myths and facts regarding literacy. For example:

Myth: There are millions of illiterate people in Canada
Fact: There are very few people who are 'illiterate', meaning that they cannot read at all.

If you would like to get your facts straight visit ABC Life Literacy Canada at www.abclifeliteracy.ca/en/literacy-myths

Literacy Statistics

There are literacy statistics everywhere.  Where do you begin to find all the answers without 'googling' for an hour.  Here are some statistics to get you started in the right direction, followed by some links (save the 'googling' for someone else).

•  35% of working aged (16-65) British Columbians had an average prose literacy level below level three
•  People who are employed in British Columbia had a higher average prose literacy score than the unemployed
•  The majority of seniors in British Columbia have low literacy
•  There is a positive relationship between prose literacy and civic engagement (voting)
•  There are four basic 'types' of literacy: Prose, Document, Numeracy and Problem Solving
•  There are five literacy levels (1-5) for each type of literacy.  Level three is the internationally recognized minimum required to  participate in a modern knowledge-based economy
•  Canadians aged 16-65 who reported being in poor health scored lower in document literacy than those that reported being in  good health

Some great literacy links to check out the statistics:

•  ABC Life Literacy Canada Literacy Facts
• Canadian Council on Learning
• Youth Literacy Canada
• Literacy BC 
• The Human Early Learning Project
• Read Now BC
• National Adult Literacy Database
• Literacy Central