Literacy in Canada

[waterspyder]

When I was working at HRSDC in 2003, the periodical I was publishing at the time featured this information and I've brought it up in conversation over the years, and most people expressed opinions that clearly I was mistaken... well, clearly I am not.

About 44% of Canadians aged 16 to 69 fall into the bottom two classifications for literacy, and are regarded as being functionally illiterate.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/lld/nls/Surveys/ialscrh.shtml

Additional definitions and comments are available at http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/89-588-XIE/about.htm

Comments

[zenten.livejournal.com]

I remember the statistic quoted to me in highschool that around two thirds of highschool graduates go on to post secondary school. Combine that will the fact that the graduation rate in Canada is fairly high, and, well, that certainly explains some of the people in my first year classes.

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

durrr... dis not rite, we smrt in canaduh!

[corradus.livejournal.com]

Never doubted you for a second.

[twiin.livejournal.com]

The definition of functional literacy and what the average person thinks of when they hear 'illiterate' are very far removed from each other. I'm not surprised that most people think you're wrong in your numbers, because by their definition of illiteracy, it's a far smaller number.

[andifferous.livejournal.com]

Having worked in food service....i know it sounds weird
but it doesn't sound too remote.

[okcismelanie.livejournal.com]

Twenty-one Reasons Why English Is Hard to Learn

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The farm was used to produce produce.

3. The dump was so full it had to refuse more refuse.

4. We must polish the Polish furniture.

5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7. Since there was no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10. I did not object to the object.

11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12. There was a row among the oarsmen on how to row.

13. They were too close to the door to close it.

14. The buck does funny things when does are present.

15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

[sarari.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's Shawn. *waves* Found your LJ. :)