Literacy / Learning Program
Literacy and Essential Skills in Municipal Workplaces Project
Over the past decade, the face of municipal government has undergone a drastic change. The early reasons for supporting workplace literacy programs such as improved health and safety in the workplace, hiring policies that required a Grade 12 or equivalent diploma, the introduction of new technology, and the opportunity to improve labour-management relations, have evolved to include the issues of the new knowledge-based society.
Downsizing, restructuring, amalgamating, and designing a municipal government operation that can drive a 'smart local government' are all factors that motivate them to operate more efficiently. To do so, municipal corporations must have an educated workforce with transferable skills. The range of skills required to cope in today's municipal workplaces has grown dramatically.
Literacy and learning have taken on a much broader meaning. Employees have to use information in new and more complex ways. They have to understand information and technology, and have the skill base to be able to apply it. Critical thinking and problem solving on-the-job are essential in their daily routines. Workplace education/literacy programs are a major part of the solution. The initiatives help workers at all levels of the municipal corporation who are falling behind to cope with the challenges of the rapidly changing municipal workplace.
CAMA believes that there is still much that should be done to strengthen the foundation and communicate the impacts of workplace learning and literacy programs. The Literacy and Essential Skills in Municipal Workplaces Project will build on past accomplishments and, looking to the future, research, create and organize additional tools, resources and networks that will have short and long term value-added for municipal managers, unions and learners for many years. Our commitment is also to continue to communicate the benefits and successes to our colleagues and partners, and to provide support and assistance to new and current workplace education projects.
For further information on the Literacy and Essential Skills Project,
please contact: Patricia Nutter, Project Director by telephone at: (613) 264-0111, by fax at: (613) 264-8902 or by e-mail or contact the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators National Office.
We are grateful to the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, for their support of the CAMA Literacy and Essential Skills Project.
