Report on the CMEC forum on adult literacy June 19 - 20, 2006, Prince George, British Columbia

Summary: The Councils of Ministers of Education, canada (CMEC) Adult Literacy Form, Investing in Our Potential: Towards Quality Adult Literacy Prorams in Canada, was a part of the national Literacy Action Plan. The aim of the forum was for CMEC to "better understand the challenges of literacy and identify the strategies to increase literacy signifcantly." This forum report is based on a presentation by three panels. The first panel included experts who compared Canada's performance with other countries on the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) and the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALLS). The second panel discussed the need for government aid for adult literacy provision at the community level. The third panel discussed macro- and micro-economic evidence of positive effects of adult literacy. The report also includes recommendations for action by CMEC by the forum participants.