Raising the level of a nation's literacy competence demands more than just policies focused on literacy as a single issue. It is also important that the goal of increased literacy skill be supported across a broad range of other policy areas such as youth, seniors, employment, human resource development, health, social welfare and crime prevention.

The above is from Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society, the latest report from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), released in Canada on November 7, 1997.

This new report builds on the data presented in the first IALS publication, Literacy Economy and Society, released in December 1995. IALS was the first ever international, comparative report on literacy performance. Seven countries took part Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and Canada.

The new report continues the IALS story with data collected from five more countries- Australia, Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society tells us more about the impact of low literacy on individuals and economies, and about the benefits of high literacy levels to societies.

The report is jointly published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Statistics Canada; and the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS), Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).

The report was released in Canada at last month's OECD international conference in Vancouver. The aim of the conference, called Policy Strategies for Improving Literacy Skills, was to explore the policy implications of the survey and share information on national responses. Participants included literacy specialists and senior government officials from 20 countries.

In a joint press release, the OECD and HRDC said that, in Canada, 42 per cent of adults aged 16 to 65 years are below the level of literacy considered appropriate in order to function effectively in today's society.

The key finding of the new survey is that there are significant literacy skill gaps in every county surveyed. The myth that low skills are a problem only for developing countries is exposed in every country where data were collected.

At least 25 per cent of adults in all the countries surveyed fail to reach level 3 of the five literacy skill levels. Level 3 is considered the minimum desired level in many countries.

From 15 to over 50 per cent of the adult population in the countries surveyed face tremendous difficulties in coping with the literacy and numeracy demands placed on them in today's complex and changing economy and society.

Of Canadians at Level 1, 26% were unemployed; at level 2, 10% were unemployed. At levels 4/5, only 4% of Canadians were unemployed.

Copies of Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society will be available in early 1998. An information kit is available now, containing background information and highlights of the survey. Call Literacy B.C. for a copy.

Some selected passages from the November 7 media release at the OECD Conference by Jim Page, Executive Secretary of the National Literacy Secretariat.

Almost every Canadian is or soon will be -- affected by our transition to a knowledge-based society...The growth in high skill jobs means higher levels of literacy are needed now. And that means that exceptional demands will be made upon the literacy skills of Canadians.

IALS makes strong links between industrial growth and skill.....It tells us that what we spend on literacy is not a cost -- it is an investment -- a long term, interest-bearing bond which pays both social and economic dividends.

The key to solving Canada's literacy challenge lies in the widespread adoption of a learning culture, a commitment to life-long learning. We need to create literacy and learning-rich environments in our homes, in the community and in our workplaces.