Franco-Canadians will now be able to have their learning recognized throughout their lives. On the occasion of the first National Summit on Learning for the Canadian Francophonie, the Network for the Development of Literacy and Skills (RESDAC) and the Institute for Cooperation in Adult Education (ICEA) announced Tuesday the creation of digital badges which will promote knowledge obtained outside the school system.
“When we have been on the job market for 10, 15 years, it is not our diploma which certifies what we know,” explains Daniel Baril, general director of the ICEA. Digital badges aim to certify, in the same way as a patent, the skills obtained in an “informal” context, such as at work, and “non-formal”, in community organizations or sports clubs, for example. “It’s to make visible what we know. »
Each employer, organization and individual will be able to create their own badges, to highlight participation in an event, involvement in a committee, literacy or even francization, for example. The person who receives it may communicate it to their employer. Some companies in the United States and Europe use this tool “to do internal talent management,” says Mr. Baril.
Currently online in “prototype” form, the pan-Canadian site francobadges.ca will evolve according to the recommendations of leaders of the Canadian Francophonie to present a first version in 2025. “We need to work with all the players in lifelong learning, so we wanted to make it […] a concept of social economy. »
“Bridge” with the “formal” sector
Mr. Baril and the general director of RESDAC, Denis Desgagné, believe that ultimately, “bridges” will be established between the provinces and with the “formal” network. They hope that badges awarded by organizations can be recognized by the school system. “But there is a challenge. You have to show your credentials. You have to be transparent in the learning process, […] so that others have confidence that it is not a badge produced like that, on the corner of a table,” warns Mr. Baril.
“Rigour criteria” or regular evaluation of trainers could thus be imposed. “The more proof criteria there are, the more you ensure the value of your badge,” he says.
The system will also make it possible to better promote the skills of newcomers, whose acquired skills are not “recognized”, believes Mr. Desgagné. “The platform can recognize [ces] SKILLS. In our system, we have around 60 international, national and provincial skills frameworks. We have them all. »
Questioned by The duty on the risk of ranking French speakers by valuing them according to their number of badges, Mr. Baril recognizes “that we must always avoid hierarchies”, but adds that “we live in a society which values diplomas” . “Why couldn’t we live in a society that values all skills certified differently, in competition with diplomas? »
Learning challenges
“Francophones in minority situations in Canada face challenges to their fulfillment and development,” says RESDAC, which is organizing the summit. On average, 52% of French-speaking adults in a minority situation “experience difficulty reading texts or writing on a daily basis.”
In 2023, the network fought to have an amendment adopted to section 41 (3) of the new Official Languages Act so that the “federal government commits to strengthening the opportunities for French-speaking and English-speaking minorities to engage in quality learning, in formal, non-formal or informal contexts in their own language throughout their lives, particularly from early childhood to post-secondary studies.
This legislative addition aimed to recognize that learning is accomplished “throughout life”, both within educational establishments and at work and at home.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.