Abstract
This paper examines a recent government initiative aimed at raising adult literacy levels across the Canadian province of British Columbia by 2010. Through analysis of policy documents and interviews conducted with policymakers, analysts, researchers and practitioners, the author argues that the current focus on adult literacy in British Columbia can best be understood as part of a broader agenda of promoting lifelong learning for the knowledge economy and global competition. The findings show that like the Olympic Games themselves set to occur in the province in 2010, literacy has come to be seen as a contest, where there are winners and losers, participants and non‐participants. Nonetheless, the findings also suggest that there exist unique possibilities and opportunities for community development and civic engagement through a campaign that has increasing literacy rates as its main objective.
Notes
1. For those unfamiliar with the Canadian system, it is important to understand that education—including adult education—is largely funded and administrated at the provincial, not national, level. There are two ministries which oversee education in the province of British Columbia: the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Advanced Education.
2. I realise that the two terms ‘knowledge society’ and ‘knowledge economy’ connote very different ideas—where, in the former term, the economy is not given linguistic preference. However, in practice, both these terms are often used interchangeably and most frequently refer to the economy.
3. An ‘outreach worker’ works in a literacy organisation and performs a similar job of both a liaison officer and social worker.
4. The talk given by Deputy Minister Quayle was entitled ‘Principles to position BC’s community of learners’ and was given at Green College, University of British Columbia on 27 March, 2006.
5. ‘First Nations’ is the term given to the indigenous peoples of Canada.
6. Like education, benefits and assistance are also administered provincially in Canada.