$33 Million for Literacy

On Thursday, July 2, 2009, the Honourable John Milloy – Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Minister of Research and Innovation – announced $33 million in funding for adult literacy:

  • $20,000 flat rate increase for delivery programs plus a 25% increase based on current funding
  • $20,000 flat rate increase for umbrella and support organizations
  • $5 million for e-learning
  • $3 million for research and development

After more than a decade of stagnant funding, how you feel about this announcement? What do you think of the role of the OLC in this process? What is your organization going to do with the allotted funds? Share your ideas, plans and strategies with your colleagues in the field.

Learning Centres Enter Phase 2

Fifty-seven (57) school boards, colleges and community agencies submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) outlining an Adult Learning Centre Demonstration Project. Fifteen (15) Expressions of Interest were successful – i.e. were selected for proposal development funding (Phase 2). A full list of the successful EOIs can be found at http://ontarioliteracycoalition.com/2009/05/07/expressions-of-interest/.

The EOIs entering Phase 2 span the province with two projects in the northern region, five in the central region, four in the southwestern region and four in the eastern region.

All successful EOIs included an element surrounding the current economic environment (displaced workers, the economy, etc.) and an element surrounding immigrant, citizenship or settlement issues. Two successful EOIs focused on Aboriginal communities, three successful EOIs were francophone-based and 14 out of 15 successful EOIs had a youth component.

An inter-ministerial committee reviews all submissions (Expressions of Interest and Proposals). This committee consists of eight members among the three learning ministries – the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. [Other expertise are drawn upon when appropriate.]

Please note that proposals within Phase 2 are due Friday, September 4 not September 5 as originally communicated. Final projects are still to be chosen from the aforementioned 15 Expressions of Interest. Announcements are expected in the fall.

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