Swift Current city council has declared the week of September 9 to 15 as International Literacy Week.

The week is meant to bring awareness to those in the community who suffer from a lack of literacy, as well as highlight ways that illiteracy can be combated in the community.

Bula Ghosh and Andrea McCrimmon, both members of the Southwest Literacy Committee were both present at yesterday's city council to seek the declaration's approval to showcase the city's need for assistance to the illiterate.

McCrimmon stated at the city council meeting that the stats are alarming for illiteracy in Canada.

"In Canada, four out of ten adults do not have functioning literacy skills," she explained. "International Literacy Day helps bring attention to these alarming statistics, while also highlighting resources and opportunities available to those who are struggling."

While these statistics may raise some eyebrows, Ghosh said that the numbers may be unfairly presented because of people who have other reasons to not be able to complete a standard literacy test.

"A lot of seniors and people who are new to the country, they were submitted to the same questions that everybody else was, so that brought down the level of literacy of the general population also," Ghosh added. "So those influenced the results, seniors and newcomers to the country. Sometimes they could not navigate the questions because they did not know the language, so that skewed them."

Ghosh also said that being literate is essential to being a valued member of the workforce.

"The Conference Board of Canda has brought forward the nine essential skills to be effective and productive at the workplace, and embracing those nine essential skills will create a better life and livelihood for all. To address these skills, special programs are often available to regional colleges, basic education programs to enhance the essential skills and improving employment opportunities and quality of life."

Swift Current city council has declared the week of September 9 to 15 as International Literacy Week.

The week is meant to bring awareness to those in the community who suffer from a lack of literacy, as well as highlight ways that illiteracy can be combated in the community.

Bula Ghosh and Andrea McCrimmon, both members of the Southwest Literacy Committee were both present at yesterday's city council to seek the declaration's approval to showcase the city's need for assistance to the illiterate.

McCrimmon stated at the city council meeting that the stats are alarming for illiteracy in Canada.

"In Canada, four out of ten adults do not have functioning literacy skills," she explained. "International Literacy Day helps bring attention to these alarming statistics, while also highlighting resources and opportunities available to those who are struggling."

While these statistics may raise some eyebrows, Ghosh said that the numbers may be unfairly presented because of people who have other reasons to not be able to complete a standard literacy test.

"A lot of seniors and people who are new to the country, they were submitted to the same questions that everybody else was, so that brought down the level of literacy of the general population also," Ghosh added. "So those influenced the results, seniors and newcomers to the country. Sometimes they could not navigate the questions because they did not know the language, so that skewed them."

Ghosh also said that being literate is essential to being a valued member of the workforce.

"The Conference Board of Canda has brought forward the nine essential skills to be effective and productive at the workplace, and embracing those nine essential skills will create a better life and livelihood for all. To address these skills, special programs are often available to regional colleges, basic education programs to enhance the essential skills and improving employment opportunities and quality of life."

Today the Great Plains College will be offering a chance to take a literacy test based on the nine essential skills to be effective in the workforce, and the Swift Current Library will also be hosting events throughout the week pertaining to illiteracy awareness and prevention.