National Adult Literacy Database

The authors of this fact sheet note that according to the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS), 63 per cent of urban Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan scored below Level 3, compared to 39 per cent of the non-Aboriginal population. Level 3 is considered the minimum needed to function effectively in modern society.

The authors provide a number of suggestions for improving literacy skills among Aboriginal people. They include using a learner-centred approach; using a community-based approach; incorporating a holistic approach; building awareness of Aboriginal success stories; and basing teaching methods on Aboriginal ways of learning.