Department of Education calling for proposals to pilot new ABE program

Education Minister Judy Foote said today the Department of Education is calling for proposals from non-profit organizations to pilot a new Adult Basic Education (ABE) Level I model. A Request for Proposals will be advertised in the province�s newspapers, starting Saturday.

In 2000-01, the Department of Education commissioned an independent study of basic adult literacy and ABE Level I programs in Newfoundland and Labrador. A working group was established to study the report�s recommendations and to develop a quality sustainable ABE Level I program delivery model. The working group also developed an implementation plan which called for piloting the new delivery model at six sites throughout the province.

"A major objective of our Strategic Literacy Plan, Words to Live By, is to enhance adult basic literacy programming in our province," said Minister Foote. "We need to ensure that adult learners who have chosen to strengthen their literacy skills have access to a quality ABE Level I program."

The Department of Education and the National Literacy Secretariat funded the development of the program delivery model for piloting. Based on criteria outlined in the Terms of Reference, three existing centres and three new centres will be chosen to pilot the new model over a two-year period, beginning September 2003. While the pilot is underway, the Department of Education will continue to fund those centres which have traditionally received support to deliver adult literacy programs but are not participating in the pilot.

Minister Foote said an integral part of the pilot will be an evaluation of the program. Participants in the pilot will be asked to provide input and feedback to determine future directions for program delivery for basic literacy and ABE Level I, to ensure the program meets the needs of adult learners.

"We are investing a great deal of time and money to ensure the literacy supports we provide to adults are relevant and beneficial," said Minister Foote. "The project will be monitored and evaluated by the ABE Level I Working Group on an on-going basis throughout the two-year pilot."

The Terms of Reference for the pilot can be accessed at: /edu/literacy/pilot.pdf

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2003 01 31                                         3:05 p.m.