College Student Literacy Needs Should be Prioritized According to HEQCO Study

A recent study released by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) shows that nearly 40 per cent of Ontario colleges have no programs in place to assess student literacy and that many students risk not completing their programs due to language deficits. Grade Learning, Ontario’s largest full-service education provider, takes pride in its assessment and literacy programs and supports the recommendations made by the HEQCO’s study.

“The HEQCO study reveals several alarming statistics that explain gaps in college-level literacy, including: only 21% of Ontario’s colleges require formal language skill assessments in all of their programs and few colleges offer remediation or language upgrading for students struggling with literacy,” said Michael Bateman, President and CEO, Grade Learning. “As a private Career College, we’ve set the bar high by conducting standardized assessments for every admission, plus offering a combination of additional literacy and language assessments; remedial support to properly prepare students for college programs; and in-house individualized tutoring for students of all ages.”

The study found that, while Ontario colleges were taking steps to address literacy needs, more could be done to facilitate optimum student success. To properly address the language needs of Ontario college students, HEQCO’s recommendations include the institution of a standardized approach among Ontario’s 24 colleges. This would not only ease student transfers among institutions, but would also allow instructors and administrators to communicate, interpret and report findings on a system-wide scale.

“Grade Learning has prioritized student and language assessment and training,” said Margaret Prophet, Director of Education. “We are uniquely prepared to work with students of all skill levels and believe that bettering one’s literacy is a vital stepping stone toward success in any career.”

Learn more about Grade Learning’s literacy programs here, and our ESL programs here.