Canadian literacy conference
Tribal CTAD’s Director of Lifelong Learning, Barry Brooks, recently flew to British Columbia as a guest of the Canadian government to provide the keynote address at the first pan-Canadian conference focusing on adult literacy. Entitled ‘Towards quality adult literacy programs in Canada’, this event brought together ministers from all provinces and territories, as well as senior officials and lead practitioners. It was held at the newly built University of British Columbia in Prince George, 500 miles north of Vancouver.
The paper that Barry presented, 'Skills for Life and Work - the journey from policy through practice to progress and promise for all', focused on how a national strategy benefits from the strategic intervention and leadership of government. This focus is of particular importance to the development of a pan-Canadian strategy, where the needs and priorities of regions and territories must be aligned with the national policy.
The invitation was not Barry’s first to address the Canadian government. In January 2004, whilst still at the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Barry was invited by the Premiere of British Columbia Gordon Campbell to brief ministers and officials about the Skills for Life strategy in England. Barry also provided the keynote address at the province’s annual family learning conference. From that small beginning, Gordon Campbell and British Columbia have taken the lead in seeking a pan-Canadian solution to their growing adult literacy problem.
As well as direct interest in the content of Barry’s paper from delegates, there was enormous interest in the UK’s approach to public-private partnerships. More specifically, colleagues in Canada were very interested in how Tribal works with central government and why a senior government official had chosen to ‘cross the floor’ and move from the public to the private sector.
Barry expects to visit Canada again in the future, as the government clearly believes there is much to learn from the UK not only in the development of an adult literacy strategy, but also in the implementation of that strategy by private partners.
Download Barry Brook's paper 
Skills for Life and Work - the journey from policy through practice to progress and promise for all (293.63 KB)