ADULT BASIC EDUCATION
Volume 5, Number 1, Spring 1995, 37 - 52

Maurice C. Taylor

ABSTRACT

Although the field of workplace literacy has been developing for a few years in Canada, there still exists no long term policies. One of the reasons for this lack of attention is the fact that there is little information to draw upon as to what has worked and not worked and why in program delivery. This qualitative study sought to find some of the answers to these questions. Participants in six workplace literacy programs across the country described the major events and activities that are involved in developing and sustaining basic skills training. These program profiles are briefly sketched out here with a discussion of some of the critical factors that can lead to successful programming,

In Canada, there is a growing awareness that a large number of adults lack the basic skills necessary to function effectively in the workplace. Evidence suggests that as many as one third of Canadian workers experience some degree of difficulty applying basic reading, writing and math skills in the workplace. Rough estimates of the cost of this problem are in the billions of dollars (ABC Canada, 1993; ABC Canada, 1994; Conference Board of Canada. 1992; Taylor, Lewe, & Draper, 1991).

As part of the solution to this skills gap, new training strategies such as workplace education programs have been introduced as opportunities to learn the necessary skills required for fuller participation in work life. Generally, most initiatives to set up basic skills training have come primarily from unions, school boards, and community colleges. These demonstration projects are largely funded through the National Literacy Secretariat, Human Resources Development Canada or through provincial government incentive grants and are commonly regarded as being at the forefront in the field. Although businesses are showing signs of interest in this training activity, some employers seem to develop initiatives only when confronted with a crisis that has revealed a lack of basic skills in their workplace. In fact, fewer than 15% of employers offer some form of basic skills training.

MAURICE C. TAYLOR is associate professor of Education, University of Ottawa, Ontario Canada.