Workplace Literacy Affecting Your Bottom Line? Attend Free Seminar on March 30th, 2007
The battle is on! The Workforce Development Board and Literacy Ontario Central South are teaming up to help fight for literacy in the workplace.
Peterborough, ON (PRWEB) March 27, 2007
Question: Which of these statements are true?
A) Four in ten Canadians do not have the literacy skills needed to meet increasing demands of modern life and economy.
B) Average literacy scores have not improved significantly in the past decade even though educational attainment has improved.
C) Ontarians scored significantly lower in a 2003 adult literacy study than Canadians from Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.
Answer: All of them.
The battle is on! The Workforce Development Board and Literacy Ontario Central South are teaming up to help fight for literacy in the workplace.
They are kicking off their campaign with a television commercial that will air on local stations and are also hosting a Celebrating Literacy Breakfast on March 30th, 2007 between 7:30 a. m. and 9:30 a. m., at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront.
You see, literacy is not an either/or issue. Many people think that one can either read and write and do basic math, or they cannot. It's not that simple.
In a 2003 adult literacy study, 23,000 Canadians were tested. It was discovered that 42% of Ontarians, representing almost 3.5 million people, scored below adequate literacy levels. And 50% of Ontarians, representing over 4.1 million people, scored below adequate levels in numeracy. It was also found that the largest proportion of workers with level 1 proficiency, that is the lowest level of proficiency, are in the manufacturing, construction, transportation, gas and electricity industries.
You may be thinking, who cares? Why is this my problem? The truth is, workplace literacy doesn't just affect workers. It affects the employer and the economy as well. Employees today are expected to play a broader, more responsible and self-directed role than ever before in the workplace, and thus literacy and basic skills are critical to the success of every business. Ontario businesses wanting to gain "the competitive edge" should begin by demonstrating a strong commitment to literacy in the workplace.
For more information on workplace literacy, please down load the Celebrating Literacy Resource Manual at www. WorkplaceLiteracy. ca
The Workforce Development Board and Literacy Ontario Central South invite you to breakfast on March 30 at 7:30 a. m. to learn more about how workplace literacy can benefit you and your organization. It will be highlighted by keynote speaker Brigid Hayes who has been Director of the Canadian Labour and Business Centre. To register for this event, you can RSVP via e-mail, or call 705-749-3250 ext: 10. Registration deadline is March 26, 2007.
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