Grade 12 Skills continued...

“Large numbers of young adults seem to lack the literacy skills to serve them in career choices”, says Sarginson. “Without basic reading, writing and numeracy skills, these young adults are unable to establish themselves in well-paying jobs, occupational training or advanced education.”

Young people are the base of the economic pyramid. If weak skills do not permit them to enter the workforce, the whole economy suffers. Studies show that under-educated youth draw from the economy in terms of social assistance, EI, re-training and law enforcement dollars. In later life, they tend to contribute less toward the creation of stable families, taxable income and community leadership.

The Manitoba government has adopted a proactive stance with regard to youth re-training. Literacy programs, adult learning centres and EAL programs enable people with weak literacy or education skills to attain diplomas and to build employment skills.

The problem is that most programs are located in urban areas and not available in regions where literacy rates are the lowest.

The Manitoba Institute for Literacy and Learning urges the Minister of Literacy, the Honourable Diane McGifford, to extend the network of literacy programs to more communities in rural Manitoba. She should also actively liaise with other Ministers in the creation of a literacy improvement strategy for the province that will harvest the talents of all of Manitoba’s low educated youth.