Education and Early Childhood Development
Advanced Education and Skills
January 27, 2016

Supporting Children, Families and Communities

Provincial Government Recognizes National Family Literacy Day

The Provincial Government is celebrating National Family Literacy Day today to help raise awareness about the importance of families participating in literacy-related activities.

"The world in which we live in is very dynamic and always changing. This is one of the many reasons why strong literacy skills are so important. The path to literacy begins at home and taking the time every day to read to your children or participate in learning activities with them is key to their development. Research shows that just 15 minutes a day can improve the literacy skills of children and parents. I hope today will help to inspire families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to learn together."
- The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

The Provincial Government supports a number of early learning and literacy initiatives including the K-12 literacy plan Learning for a Lifetime, the Early Learning Foundation initiative and Parent Resource Kits that encourage learning at home. For over a decade, the province has participated in the Council of the Federation Literacy Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy by individuals and stakeholder groups.

To encourage more families to strengthen their literacy skills, there are a number of resources available throughout the province:

• Public libraries offer library materials, free access to the Internet, online learning and reading resources and programs to everyone in the province. For more information, or to access online resources from home, please visit www.nlpl.ca ;
• Family Resource Centres, are located across the province and provide a variety of community-based activities and resources for children and families that emphasize early childhood development and parenting support. To find a Family Resource Centre in your area, please visit www.childcare.gov.nl.ca; and
• The Adult Basic Education program is delivered throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, allowing thousands of individuals to obtain the necessary skills to transition into post-secondary education and the labour force. For more information, please visit www.aes.gov.nl.ca/adultlearning/abe.html

�Advancing and supporting adult literacy reaps benefits in the development of literacy within a family. That is why our government is firmly focused on encouraging projects with specific goals and outcomes, where benefits can be measured and assessed, for increasing adult literacy in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a commitment in our election platform, this government believes in the merits of lifelong learning, and we will develop an Adult Literacy Strategy, which will help guide future investments to support literacy.�
- The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27. To learn more about Family Literacy Day please visit //abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy

QUICK FACTS

• Today, January 27 is National Family Literacy Day.
• Research shows that just 15 minutes a day of reading or learning activities can improve the literacy skills of parents and children.
• For more information or to access online resources at public libraries visit www.nlpl.ca or to find a Family Resource Centre in your area visit www.childcare.gov.nl.ca
• To learn more about Family Literacy Day visit //abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy
• The province�s Adult Basic Education program allows thousands of individuals to obtain the necessary skills to transition into post-secondary education and the labour force. For more information, please visit www.aes.gov.nl.ca/adultlearning/abe.html

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Media contacts:

Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2016 01 27                              10:50 a.m.