Learning

London is home to one of Canada’s distinguished universities as well as a top regional college. Our city is widely recognized as a leader in the health and research sector. The local high school completion rate compares well with both provincial and national averages yet our community panel perceived this as an area where we could continue to improve. Despite these factors, literacy remains identified as a concern and requires our attention and resources, particularly among our younger population. A large percentage of our children and youth do not score well when tested for literacy skills and their readiness to learn.

Key Report Findings (click to expand)

• Population without a High School Education
  • In 2007, 17.5% of people aged fifteen and over in London had not graduated from high school. This was down 14.1 percentage points from 1990. The London rate in 2007 was 3.1 percentage points below the rate for Ontario and 4.7 percentage points below the Canada-wide rate.
  • Proportion of the Population (15 years and over) that have not Completed High School in London, Ontario and Canada by CMA and Economic Region, 1990, 2000-2007

  • 	Canada	Ontario	London
    1990	37.8	35.8	31.6
    2000	28.2	26.2	21.9
    2001	27.2	25.2	23.6
    2002	26.3	24.5	24.0
    2003	25.0	23.2	21.2
    2004	24.4	22.6	17.6
    2005	23.6	22.0	18.3
    2006	23.2	21.6	19.7
    2007	22.2	20.6	17.5
    % point change, 1990-2007	-15.6	-15.2	-14.1
    % change, 1990-2007	-41.3	-42.5	-44.7

  • Source: Statistics Canada.

    Related Articles:
    

    Table IV-3-a: Proportion of the Population (15 years and over) that have not Completed High School by CMA and Economic Region, 1999 and 2007
    Table IV-3-b: High School Non-Completion Rate for persons 15 years and over in Vital Signs Communities, 2001 and 2006
    
  • (back to top)
  •  
• Population with a Post-Secondary Education
  • In London, 50.4% of the population (15 years and over) in 2006 had completed post-secondary education (university degree, post-secondary certificate or diploma), 0.5% lower than the national average (50.7) and 1.1% lower than the provincial average (51.0). 
  • Proportion of the Population (15 years and over) with a Post-Secondary Education (University Degree; Post-Secondary Certificate or Diploma) in London, Ontario and Canada CMAs and Economic Regions, 1990, 2000-2007

  • 	Canada	Ontario	London
    1990	32.7	33.2	31.6
    2000	42.8	43.1	44.5
    2001	44.3	44.7	45.8
    2002	45.1	45.6	44.4
    2003	46.1	46.4	46.9
    2004	46.6	46.9	49.3
    2005	48.0	48.7	50.4
    2006	48.8	49.9	50.1
    2007	49.9	51.3	52.5
    % point change, 1990-2007	17.2	18.1	20.9
    % change, 1990-2007	52.7	54.4	66.1

  • Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.
    Note: Tabulations for Canada are based on data from the 10 provinces, territories are excluded. The figures between the table on the LCF website and the context statement in the Vital Signs Report differ slightly because the data are derived from two different data sources namely the Labour Force Survey and the Census.

    Related Articles:
    Table IV-2-a: Proportion of the Population (15 years and over) with a Post-Secondary Education (University Degree; Post-Secondary Cert Diploma) for CMAs and Economic Regions, 1990, 2000-2007
    Table IV-2-b: Proportion of the Population 15 years and over with a Postsecondary Education in Vital Signs Communities, 2001 and 2006
    

  • (back to top)

  •  

• Adult Literacy Scores
  • The average adult literacy score for prose in London was 266 in 2003. This was 2.3% lower than the national average of 272 and 1.6% lower than the provincial average of 270.
  • 
  • Table IV-1: Adult Literacy Score Mean Estimates for Vital Signs Communities, 2003
  • (back to top)
  •  
• Aboriginal High School Completion Rates
  • The aboriginal high school completion rate for those aged 15 and over in London was 66.4% in 2006, having increased 4.1% from 63.8% in 2001. The rate in 2006 was 17.9% higher than the national rate for Aboriginals (56.3%) and 6.4% higher than the rate for Ontario (62.4%).
  • Aboriginal High School Completion Rates for persons 15 and over in London, Ontario and Canada, 2001 and 2006

  • 	Total Aboriginal population 15 years and over			High School Graduation Certificate or Higher			Proportion of Aboriginal Population With High School Certificate or More
    Canada	652,350	823,890		339,035	464,110		52.0	56.3
    Ontario	132,670	178,165		76,550	111,190		57.7	62.4
    London	3,865	4,405		2,465	2,925		63.8	66.4
    	2001
    	2006

  • Source: For 2001 data: Statistics Canada. Census 2001; Topic-based-tabulations.; for 2006 data. Statistics Canada. Aboriginal Population Profile.
    Note: +Although it is possible to compare data between 2001 and 2006 there is a cautionary note due to changes in the definitions surrounding questions used in the education section of the 2006 Census.
    ++ The large increase in the Aboriginal population is in large part due to increases in the Métis population (more than 30 per cent in 5 years), and not necessarily higher fertility rates. In general Métis are more educated than the North American Indian and Inuit populations, part of the improvement in high school completion rates is explained by the rapid growth in the Métis population – thus the improved rates may be criticized as a fallacy in the data where the estimate is attributable to population growth versus and increase in completion rate.
    Related Articles:
    Table IV-6: Aboriginal High School Completion Rates for persons 15 and over in Vital Signs Communities, 2001 and 2006
    
  • (back to top)
  •  
• Child Readiness to Start School
  • The ‘Best Start’ initiative is a commitment by the province of Ontario intended to have our children ready to learn when they begin Grade 1.
    In order to accomplish this goal, the focus is on children’s health, early learning and child care in the earliest years of their lives.

  • London Children in School: State of Affairs
    Grade1	27% of children in senior kindergarten are not ready to start grade 1
    Grade 2	Our students in grade 3 scored 32% and 42% below standard for math, writing and reading on the provincial literacy and numeracy tests By the time they reached grade 9, 61% of students taking applied math were scoring below standard
    Grade 3	17% of high school students in London did not pass the grade 10 literacy test and had to rewrite

  • Source: Children and Youth Agenda, 2008: Courtesy of the City of London.
    Note: Further information is available at www.london.ca

    Related Articles:
    

    Best Start Middlesex London
    http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Child_Care/Best_Start.htm
    
  • (back to top)
  •  

Literacy
Table IV-4: CLI Scores for Canada, Provinces and Vital Signs Communities, 2006, 2007 and 2008
Table IV-5: Standardized Student Test Scores for Canada and the Provinces, 2000, 2003 and 2006

Educational Attainment
Appendix Table IV-2-a: Educational Attainment for Vital Signs Communities, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2007, Per Cent of the Population 15 Years and Over
Appendix Table IV-2-b: Educational Attainment for Vital Signs Communities, 2006, Population Aged 15 and Over
Appendix Table IV-4: CLI and Pillar Scores, by Province, CMA and Economic Regions, 2006-2008

LOCAL LINKS  

Literacy London Inc  
Email : literacylondon@gtn.on.ca

Literacy Link South Central  
http://www.llsc.on.ca/

National Adult Literacy Database  
http://www.nald.ca/
   
London Public Library: Literacy Instructors and Volunteers  
http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/node/184

London District Catholic School Board-Centre for Lifelong Learning: Literacy and Basic Skills  
http://www.cfll.on.ca/
   
Wheable Centre for Adult Education
http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/ace/contact.htm
   
Nokee Kwe  
Occupational Skill Development Inc.  
http://www.nokeekwe.ca/index.html
   
Fanshawe College: Academic Upgrading  
www.fanshawec.ca

If you have relevant data that helps us understand the issues that shape our community, please contact us to have it linked to this page.