Employees Honoured for Literacy Work

Three employees of the Department of Transportation and Public Works will be honoured today for their work on the Workplace Education Program, which promotes literacy skills among their fellow workers. They will be singled out during a conference in Halifax by the project's teams from northern and eastern Nova Scotia.

"I am excited with the program and thrilled with the results," said Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell. "Not only are we helping numerous government employees return to the learning path, this also clearly demonstrates the commitment to one of government's key focus areas -- lifelong learning."

The Workplace Education Program, designed to develop basic literacy skills, was started within the department in 1998. It began as a pilot project in Pictou County and soon spread to the rest of eastern and northern Nova Scotia.

The three employees are Donnie MacNeil of the Sydney project, Kevin Landry of the Antigonish/Guysborough project and Marilyn Robinson, who launched the program and continues to spearhead and promote the continuation and expansion of workplace education.

"These three people have been a driving force behind the literacy program," said Mr. Russell. "Their efforts have touched the lives of close to 100 people "But each and every participant in this program deserves special praise and recognition."

Since the program was launched, 90 employees from these regions have participated and completed either the basic skills or pre- GED program. Fifty-two wrote and passed their GED, while several others are waiting to rewrite the examinations.

Mr. Russell also noted the department benefits by having more knowledgeable, better-educated employees and the employees benefit from a positive impact in their personal lives.

"The Department of Education, which has worked hand in hand with us on the program, conducted a 1999 study that showed 91 per cent of the participants experienced increase levels of self- confidence as a result of workplace education," Mr. Russell said.

Expansion plans are being developed which will take the Workplace Education Certificate Program into the Western, Central and Miller Lake regions.

The event is being held at 12:45 p.m. today in the Sackville Room, Delta Barrington Hotel, 1875 Barrington St., Halifax.