Hanna launches new drive to tackle adult literacy

The Stormont Minister for Employment and Learning, Carmel Hanna has launched a major strategy to mark a new radical approach to improving adult literacy.

The strategy entitled ‘Essential Skills For Living’ launched at the educational unit – W5 in the Odyssey on Wednesday April 17 – aims to reduce the number of adults with literacy and numeracy difficulties and to equip them with the essential skills for living.

According to statistics from the Department of Employment and Learning over 20 per cent of the adult population cannot read the instructions on a medicine bottle, have difficulties with simple maths, are unable to help their children with reading and have difficulty preparing for the written part of their driving test.

“I want this strategy to make a real difference to the lives of the people in this country,” Mrs Hanna said.

“Improving the Essential Skills of literacy and numeracy in adults can open new doors to greater employment opportunities, enable people to have a more active participation in their communities and also contribute to the growing confidence we have in ourselves."

The SDLP spokesperson on Employment and Learning John Dallat said the strategy was a “milestone”.

“This strategy is the most powerful weapon in the Assembly’s armoury to tackle social injustice and empower disadvantaged people. In a world which is demanding higher and higher standards of educational attainment there was a real danger that the gap between the educated and the uneducated was becoming wider and wider. This strategy addresses that concern in a very practical way.”

Confirming the success of the strategy will depend on engaging learners, Carmel Hanna concluded: “The ultimate success of the strategy will depend on the ability to engage learners from all walks of life. For this reason a comprehensive Promotional Campaign will be launched to increase awareness and drive up demand among adults for improving their literacy and numeracy skills.” (AMcE)