Literacy means communication for participation.

Happily, relatively few British Columbian adults have no literacy skills whatsoever. However, literacy is not about whether or not one can read, but how well one reads. Literacy is a spectrum of ability.

Literacy encompasses the basic skills people need to achieve their goals, to function and thrive in the modern economy, and to develop their knowledge and potential - the ability to understand and employ printed information in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community.

Literacy is the essential skill. It is the cornerstone of human capital development - the foundational competence upon which the acquisition of other skills depends.

Many British Columbian adults - as many as one million - have weaker literacy skills than they need to fully participate and succeed in today's world. Supporting them in improving their literacy skills is critical to their social and economic well-being and for an inclusive, prosperous province.