ESSENTIAL SKILLS DAY REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF SKILLS TRAINING FOR SASKATCHEWAN WORKERS

September 23, 2011 has been designated as the second annual Essential Skills Day by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

HRSDC has identified nine essential skills that people use to carry out a wide variety of everyday life and work tasks. Those skills include reading text, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, working with others, thinking skills, computer use and continuous learning.

"Our government recognizes the importance of essential skills training and is investing in programs to benefit Saskatchewan workers and employers," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "We believe that funding literacy and essential skills programming is an investment in economic growth and quality of life for Saskatchewan people. Since taking power, four years ago, we've created thousands of new training opportunities for the people of Saskatchewan."

Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration (AEEI) is investing in two specific essential skill programs that support, enable and benefit learners. In 2011-12, AEEI is providing $2.5 million to publicly funded post-secondary institutions to deliver 24 Adult Basic Education - Essential Skills for the Workplace pilot projects.

AEEI is also providing $1.1 million to Workplace Essential Skills Saskatchewan (WESS) in 2011-12. WESS supports partnerships between employers, industry, community-based organizations and training institutions to deliver workplace essential skills training to unemployed and/or low skilled employees.

"Providing training and upgrading opportunities allows more communities to benefit from, and contribute to, our growing provincial economy," Norris said. "That in turn allows those people to experience the Saskatchewan Advantage first-hand."

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For more information, contact:

Richelle Bourgoin
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8153
Email: richelle.bourgoin@gov.sk.ca