Literacy and Basic Skills

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Program provides literacy, numeracy and essential skills services that help learners achieve their goals related to further education or training, employment or independence. LBS services are offered through almost 200 agencies at some 300 sites across the province.

To ensure that the literacy needs of learners from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds are addressed, the LBS Program recognizes four literacy streams: Anglophone, Deaf, Francophone and Native.

The LBS services are provided at no cost to learners and focus on people whose literacy skills are below Grade 9 of the Ontario Curriculum. The LBS Program also provides academic upgrading to assist individuals to access post-secondary training programs or employment.

The LBS Program is open to individuals who are out of school and have a facility in English or French. There is a special emphasis on serving individuals receiving social assistance through Ontario Works.

The Ministry also promotes literacy in Ontario by encouraging and supporting research and development initiatives in literacy and by ensuring that those agencies offering the LBS Program have the support necessary to provide quality literacy services.

See also:

• Literacy and Basic Skills Documents
• Literacy in Ontario: The Rewards Are for Life
• Council of the Federation Literacy Award

For more information on literacy, contact the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' Employment Ontario Hotline: 1-800-387-5656 or (416) 326-5656