"With the UN’s End-Of-Decade Assessment, we expect to have a clearer understanding of the literacy needs around the world, and therefore the ability to target them more effectively. Though the UN will move on to new prerogatives, the emerging post-Decade Literacy Vision and Action Plan suggests that this is not the end, but rather the start of a more capable response from the literacy community."
"Literacy is a ladder out of poverty, but the real issue is poverty. Some of our former learners said it seemed as if they were caught in a never-ending cycle. You need school to get a job, but some people can’t afford to come to school. They’re hungry, they can’t concentrate or they have an upset stomach. It’s basically do or die. It’s like you’re thrown into a well with no rope to pull you up."
Posted: September 11, 2012 |

Categories: Essential skills, Learning
The Opportunities Program provides a means for Literacy NL to partner with local community
groups, providing the resources needed to support local action. The program fosters, encourages, and supports community initiatives related to adult and/or family learning, or workforce development.
In celebration of International Literacy Day 2012, Global Literacy Professional Development Network (www.glpdn.net) and IRA’s Global Operations Unit released A Practical Guide to Action Research for Literacy Educators.
The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick will provide leadership to advance literacy, lifelong learning and essential skills for all citizens through partnerships and collaboration with government, educational institutions, business, labour, community organizations and individuals.
Posted: September 10, 2012 |

Category: Learning
Decoda Literacy Solutions is proud to announce the launch of the Adult Literacy Database. This database will capture data about adult literacy programs in British Columbia, and will fulfill a longstanding need for a simple and effective program management tool for adult literacy programs.
Posted: September 10, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
After a decline in July, employment rose by 34,000 in August, the result of an increase in part-time work. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.3 per cent.
“Ministers of education are pleased to add their voice to the global call for greater literacy for all peoples,” said Ramona Jennex, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education for Nova Scotia. “We recognize that literacy is one of the pillars of an open and democratic, economically strong, and socially inclusive society.”
"This year, International Literacy Day has a special focus on the fundamental relationship between Literacy and Peace. ... Lasting peace depends on the development of literate citizenship and access to education for all. Amidst political upheaval and escalating violence in many parts of the world, literacy must be a priority in the peace-building agenda of all nations." -- Irina Bokova
Jessica Hjarrand is a UNESCO literacy specialist who works to implement literacy programs that help children and adults enjoy the basic human right of learning how to read and write. This is her story.
Posted: September 7, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Career Focus provides funding for employers and organizations to create career-related work experiences for post-secondary graduates. The Government of Canada is presently accepting applications for funding from organizations interested in receiving financial assistance for the delivery of Career Focus activities.
Posted: September 7, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Skills Link is a client-centred program that provides funding for employers and organizations to offer eligible activities to youth facing barriers to employment. The Government of Canada is presently accepting applications for funding from organizations interested in acting as community coordinators and receiving financial assistance for the delivery of Skills Link activities.
"Literacy, if we need to be reminded, is the great enabler that allows individuals to unlock their potential. It’s the basic skill set on which most other capabilities are built. As we celebrate International Literacy Day (proclaimed by UNESCO in 1965) this Saturday, we should also remember that literacy is a fundamental human right."
In British Columbia, the importance of literacy as a foundational skill is recognized year-round through the efforts of literacy programs for people of all ages in communities all across the province. On September 8, Decoda Literacy Solutions would like to acknowledge the tremendous value that these programs bring to British Columbia.
Posted: September 7, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Although not entirely conjoined, the law makes it expensive for employers and employees to separate. While most people appreciate that employers can't terminate employees with impunity, few realize employees are similarly entangled. Most Canadian employees believe they can leave whenever they wish, provided they give two weeks' notice.
Posted: September 7, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for people age 15 to 24 is 14.3 per cent, almost double the 7.3 per cent for the nation as a whole. But management and human resources experts say there's hope — and offered these five tips to help grads find work.
Posted: September 6, 2012 |

Category: Learning
UNESCO will host an international conference September 26-28, 2012, in Vancouver to explore the main issues affecting the preservation of digital documentary heritage. The goal is to develop strategies that will contribute to greater protection of digital assets and help to define an implementation methodology that is appropriate for developing countries, in particular.
Posted: September 6, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Job seekers face a multitude of perplexing questions. To make matters more confusing, there are often no clear-cut answers and much depends on situational factors. Unless you happen to know someone in human resources with whom you can address these uncertainties, it can be very stressful go it alone.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Every year, 250,000 Grade 9 students across the country participate in The Learning Partnership's Take Our Kids to Work™ day. This nation-wide event provides students with the opportunity to spend the day at the workplace of a parent, relative or family friend, learning basic business and life skills. More than 75,000 employers participate annually.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Under the existing Youth Employment Strategy, this new $50-million initiative will be dedicated to projects that will connect approximately 3,000 young Canadians with private sector jobs in fields that are in high demand, such as the skilled trades and tourism. The projects will help employers fill labour shortages while providing youth with the on-the-job experience they need to transition into a career.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Categories: Essential skills, Learning
This is a reminder that all federal not-for-profit corporations incorporated under the old legislation must transition to the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act by October 17, 2014. For more information, refer to the Transition Guide for Federal Not-for-profit Corporations.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Categories: Essential skills, Learning
Each month NALD releases Library user statistics in a feature known as the Top 20 downloads. The report examines the number of NALD Library documents which are viewed and downloaded by visitors to the NALD website
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Category: Learning
According to Giller Prize organizers, this year’s jury — Russian-American satirist Gary Shteyngart, Irish author Roddy Doyle, and Canadian author and publisher Anna Porter — considered 142 books nominated by 51 publishers from across the country. The shortlist will be announced October 1 and the winner at a gala ceremony in Toronto October 30.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Categories: Essential skills, Labour market
A new publication in the NALD Library could serve as a wakeup call for Canadians interested in or concerned about the future of the workforce. A follow-up to People without Jobs, Jobs without People (2010), Dr. Rick Miner’s latest work is entitled Jobs of the Future: Options and Opportunities (2012).
International Adult Literacy Day was observed on PEI by Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning Allen Roach. The event kicked off the upcoming promotional campaign that includes a series of posters highlighting literacy champions from Prince Edward Island and recognizing the importance of strong literacy skills to individuals, communities, economies and societies.
International Literacy Day, traditionally observed annually on September 8, focuses attention on worldwide literacy needs. More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Workers with disabilities are dramatically under-represented in private-sector companies governed by the Employment Equity Act, the most recent annual government report on disability issues shows. However, they are over-represented in the public service.
Posted: September 5, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Are you a parent looking for a part-time job now that the kids are back in school? Or were you unsuccessful in your search and unable to find a job over the summer months? Regardless of your situation, Jan Hein Bax, President, Randstad Canada, says the back-to-school season can provide great opportunities to give your job search a much-needed boost.
Posted: September 4, 2012 |

Category: Learning
The tireless work of Senator Joyce Fairbairn "changed the perception of the importance of literacy as a federal issue, bringing new resources and new status as a national concern. It’s hard to remember that at that time it was a novel idea that the federal government might have a larger role to play in supporting Canadians to meet their literacy skills needs." -- Margaret Eaton, President of ABC Life Literacy Canada
Posted: September 4, 2012 |

Category: Essential skills
Skills at Work, ASPECT's new online Essential Workplace Skills Training Program, teaches the skills that employers want and employees need. The material is presented in four interactive modules.