Community Literacy of Ontario - Our Voice: CIPMS Bulletin - January 2009 issue

April 2009

Our Voice

LITERACY FUNDING INCREASE!

In the March 26, 2009 Ontario budget, the Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced additional funding of $90 million to expand literacy and basic skills training, including funding for community projects, distance learning and workplace literacy. This $90 million in funding will come from Labour Market Agreement money and will be for two years. You can read more about the 2009 Ontario budget here: www.fin.gov.on.ca/ english/budget/ontariobudgets/2009/. While the specifics are currently unknown, this is indeed great news!

Community Literacy of Ontario would like to congratulate all of the literacy organizations, networks and agencies that participated in the letter writing campaign and other activities to encourage the Ontario government to allocate additional funding to literacy programs. CLO was proud to be a part of the campaign to raise awareness about the need for a funding increase for literacy programs. The combined efforts of many contributed to the promise in the 2009 provincial budget of additional funding to literacy.

Along with others, Community Literacy of Ontario will be involved in meetings with MTCU as the allocation details are determined.

CLO’s provincial board of 12 literacy practitioners from community literacy agencies around Ontario sent in quotes from adult learners with their responses to the question: “What would an increase in funding for literacy programs mean to you?” We heard insightful responses from over 30 adult students. Here are some of their views:

“It would help some people that don’t have the money to get the education that they need to get a good job. I am an adult and it is very hard on you when you don’t have education because people look at you as if you were a dummy.”

"I have been both a learner and a volunteer at the learning centre for a couple of years, now. There never seems to be enough funding to provide for the basic things like office maintenance and pays for staff time. I hope this new money can help to cover some of the things needed to keep the place going."

"I heard that our learning centre may have to start a waiting list, soon, because it is so busy here. That would be too bad. This has helped me so much that I will soon be able to go to college. There are a lot of people around here that are getting laid-off and will need some place like this to go."

Personally I think an increase in funding would result in a better learning experience, more opportunities and more resources for the students.”

"With more funding the literacy schools will stay open. It will give me more learning options which will lead to more career options."

It helps a student to get a good schooling. And to get good jobs. If it was not for the funding a lot of students would not be in school.”

“Opening a door to opportunities.”