May. 13 2026
The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) reports that people whose parents have higher levels of education have stronger literacy skills than those whose parents did not complete secondary school. This shared engagement in learning leads to higher education and improved career opportunities.
While many factors influence financial health, literacy is a significant indicator of economic resiliency. Along with the economic benefits of strong skills for individuals, it is estimated that every 1% increase in literacy skills boosts Canada's gross domestic product by $67 billion.
It is never too late to learn. While early engagement is ideal, adult literacy programs that support the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) give people who are out of school a chance to overcome barriers and feel encouraged to learn. Adult literacy programs strengthen families by encouraging a shared culture of learning at home and supporting their children’s schoolwork.
Statistics Canada reports that, in 2020, 67% of parents with high school education engaged in their child’s learning activities, including reading, helping with homework, and discussing the importance of goal setting and realistic achievement.
Across Canada, United for Literacy runs high-impact literacy programs in Canada that teach fundamental skills required for the CAEC exam: math, reading, science, social studies, and writing. The CAEC supports adults who need high school-level certification before taking the next step in education or employment.
United for Literacy’s programs, including New Directions and Learn Outside the Box, get results. In Toronto, one learner used his CAEC credential to gain entrance to college, citing the math skills he learned as crucial to understanding his courses. Another learner obtained acceptance to police training and is pursuing further education. Yet another has gone on to study to be an MRI technician following completion of our program.
United for Literacy is committed to supporting adult education by partnering with local organizations to deliver meaningful and relevant programs. We also recruit and train local volunteers, which builds stronger communities based on a shared experience of learning. When adults feel confident about their communication, math, reading, and computer skills, they can share these skills with their children and community members.
“My own family immigrated to Canada when I was 9 years old,” says a United for Literacy tutor for a family-based program in British Columbia. “While I had the privilege of having learned English in school before we moved, it was a big struggle for my mom. Not understanding or being able to communicate makes it hard to be involved as a parent and the translating duties tend to land on the kids. Being a tutor and helping families in this way has been really rewarding and feels like a full-circle moment for me.”
United for Literacy has an ambitious strategic plan to work with 50,000 learners, including children, adults, and families annually by 2035. This is achievable, especially if policy at all levels of government prioritizes adult literacy. Programs that prepare people without high-school diplomas to attain the CAEC set adults up for individual success and yield long-term benefits to Canada’s infrastructure, including a wide-spread decrease in unemployment and reduced poverty levels.
Read more about the importance of investing in adult literacy programs in Canada.
United for Literacy’s high-impact CAEC preparation programs help to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Programs are free for participants and focus on the skills needed to take the next step, whether that’s further education, a new job, or helping a child with homework.
In Winnipeg, one learner said that her instructor "is the only reason I passed my grade 12 math. I was really struggling and I wouldn't have been able to do it. This is a great program."
Progress occurs person by person, family by family, community by community. Every individual life that is improved by a United for Literacy program and attainment of the CAEC is a step toward a stronger economy and a population that is prepared for the demands of our highly skilled world.
