Government is expecting to send the results of the first ever adult literacy survey to assessors in Canada by the end of this month.

Yesterday was the last day for data compiled in the survey to be entered by the Statistics Department, following six months of interviews in the field.

A Government Communication and Information spokeswoman said Bermuda's Department of Statistics had not finalised the number of completed questionnaires.

And Statistics Canada, which will evaluate the results, is currently reviewing whether the original target of 4,000 questionnaires will still have to be submitted.

Interviews of adult householders across the Island aged 16-65 was completed on August 31, and the Department of Statistics has been going over the information and compiling the data for the past six weeks.

Chief Statistician Valerie Robinson-James said: "We are on target and have good data.

"Originally, we were required to have 4,000 completed questionnaires, but Statistics Canada is reviewing that number since they have never had a country as small as Bermuda participate in the survey before."

All other countries taking part in the survey this year, including the United States, Canada, Italy and Switzerland, are still at the interview stage, said the Government statement.

The Adult Literacy and Life-Skills Survey has tested the reading, comprehension and numeracy skills of the adult population aged 16-65.

Former Premier Jennifer Smith decided to have the Island tested following concern from the corporate community about a lack of basic reading and numeracy skills.

The results will allow policy-makers in Bermuda to compare literacy skills on the Island with those of other countries.