This text is part of the special notebook Listening to social causes
Born in the early 1980s, the Regroupement des groupe populaire en literati du Québec (RGPAQ) continues to support its members in their fight for popular literacy.
“The Regroupement was founded by popular literacy groups,” says Cécile Retg, responsible for the collective defense of rights at the Regroupement des groupe populaire en literati du Québec (RGPAQ). At the time, 11 popular education organizations came together to form this place of exchange and reflection, and to give themselves a common voice. Today, the 77 groups from across Quebec that are part of it want to promote adult literacy so that they can better read, write and count.
Adopting the philosophy of popular literacy, these groups move away from a school-based approach and favor a horizontal structure. “People actively contribute to their learning and group life, by getting involved in the board of directors or committees, for example,” explains M.me Retg. The RGPAQ also works in the collective defense of adults with little or no literacy, particularly by engaging in the fight against poverty. “Illiteracy is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. It’s a vicious circle,” recalls Mme Retg.
A digital shift that leaves people behind
Already before the pandemic, which favored the acceleration of the migration of services to digital, the RGPAQ was concerned about the impacts of these transformations for the most vulnerable. A consultation with group participants (i.e. people with little or no literacy) revealed that the right to accessible information and services was increasingly threatened. “And with the pandemic, it was further undermined,” continues Mme Retg. And like the rest of society, the Quebec government has taken the turn: replacing paper forms with online forms, setting up self-service terminals at the SAAQ and the SAAQclic platform, making appointments via Clic Santé.
The RGPAQ therefore launched its Let’s Cross the Screen campaign in 2023, first to raise awareness among the public and the government. “We wanted to make the problem and its impacts known,” says M.me Retg, who is also responsible for the campaign. Then, with other allies, the RGPAQ launched the Declaration in 2024 Let’s cross the screen. So that people remain at the heart of public servicesaiming to collect 10,000 signatures.
“These reforms will have an impact on people with low literacy skills, but many other people will suffer from this shift,” recalls M.me Retg. Whether we think of seniors or people less comfortable with technology, of those who do not have access to a computer or a reliable connection, such as in remote areas, or of immigrants, “that leaves several people on the floor,” she notes.
Far from being trivial, the shift towards digital makes it difficult to access essential services: making an appointment to see a doctor or receive a vaccine, parent-teacher communication on online platforms, replacement or renewal of an identity document (driving license, health insurance card), etc. “It adds a barrier, and it restricts the possibility of accessing services that are essential. It’s not a Netflix subscription! » says Mme Retg.
Even beyond digital technology, the complexity of documents and websites, the inappropriate level of language of agents and the difficulty of speaking to a real person greatly complicate the lives of people with little literacy, but also of those with difficulties visual. This is without taking into account that, if sometimes the paper versions are maintained, it costs more to make a physical request, “even though we know that literacy is linked to poverty”, underlines Mme Retg.
Echoes
Since its launch, the campaign has had some repercussions. “We noticed a certain awareness,” recalls Mme Retg. The government has started thinking about reducing the digital divide. “But we wonder what that will change in concrete terms, because the last digital strategy clearly indicated that the objective was to accelerate digital transformation,” she continues.
We hope that the five demands of the Declaration will be heard: maintenance and humanization of in-person services, simplification of data, access to IT tools and support for lifelong learning. “The shift is useful for lots of people, we’re not asking to stop it. But it is the government’s responsibility to maintain in-person services,” concludes M.me Retg.
The campaign continues, and there is still time to sign the declaration: rgpaq.qc.ca/traversons#declaration
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