The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education

Adults Learners’ Week Observed in Province

We cannot overstate the importance of strong literacy skills and lifelong learning. Today, more than ever, they are the tools which lead to an individual’s success, and to the future economic development of our province.

As we recognize April 2-9 as International Adult Learners’ Week, we also recognize the men and women who have worked hard – sometimes under difficult circumstances – to further their literacy and learning during their adult years. As a government, we support their efforts.

Since 2004, $48 million has been invested in such initiatives as increasing the number of sites offering Adult Basic Education, introducing an adult learner scholarship program, and expanding College of the North Atlantic’s Comprehensive Arts and Science program. In addition, community-based literacy programming has been enhanced through improvements in our data collection systems. As a result, we now know more about our learners, and their needs.

All these measures are helping adult learners meet the admission requirements for further post-secondary training or employment – which is essential to enabling them to participate more fully in our growing economy.

We intend to build on that success and I am pleased to report that we will release a Strategic Adult Literacy Plan this spring. It is important that we continue to remove barriers which prevent adults from improving their skills and education, and this plan will do just that. It is designed to raise awareness, increase participation, and enhance access to effective adult literacy and learning programs throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Finally, as we observe International Adult Learners’ Week, I take this opportunity to thank the many literacy leaders throughout the province whose commitment is making a difference to adults who want to improve their literacy skills and continue to learn. Together, we are making a real difference in people’s lives and to their hopes for the future.

2011 04 04             1:55 p.m.