Adult Learning Conference

More than 90 adult educators, government and community representatives are meeting in Truro today, Nov. 22, to discuss educational options for adults returning to learning.

The one-day conference is the first of its kind in the region and is giving partners of the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning the chance to reflect on the school's progress during its first year.

The Department of Education launched the school in September 2001 to help adult Nova Scotians access educational institution programs throughout the province. The programs range from basic literacy to high school completion.

Last year, more than 3,700 adult students were enrolled at various levels of study with participating education organizations. This year's enrolment numbers are not yet collected.

"With the School for Adult Learning, we have a co-ordinated system across the province for adults seeking to upgrade skills," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "It's the collaborative approach of the partners, such as those in the northern region, that is providing better lifelong learning opportunities for adults."

The school and the new Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma for Adults were created to give adults a recognized credential for having completed courses for their high school education. The diploma is similar to the credential granted to traditional high school students, but is earned in ways that are more suited to adult learners.

"The conference is an excellent opportunity for deliverers, referral organizations and funding agencies to network and gain a better understanding of the needs of adult learners in the northern region," said Eileen Perry, a member of the Northern Regional Planning Team and co-ordinator of the Cumberland Adult Learning Network for Adults, a community-based network in Cumberland County. "We've seen great progress in our region. The School of Adult Learning has helped us work toward achieving our organizational goals and the goals of adult learners."

About 25 per cent of Atlantic Canadians have great difficulty reading and have few of the essential literacy skills needed to understand and use written materials. About 22 per cent of Nova Scotians between the ages of 25 and 54 have not completed high school.

"The Nova Scotia Community College is delighted to be an advocate and partner in important community learning partnerships such as the School for Adult Learning," said Carol Forbes, director of Access Programming for the Nova Scotia Community College.

"Our specific involvement is the delivery of the Adult Learning Program, which has seen tremendous growth since its start in 2001," said Ms. Forbes. "This growth is an indication of the need to provide a foundation of learning for Nova Scotians and ultimately to promote a culture of learning a living for all of us."

Adult learning is a core component of the Skills Nova Scotia Framework. A key objective of the Skills Nova Scotia Framework is to increase the opportunities for Nova Scotians to access adult basic education.

The School for Adult Learning operates with $3.8 million in provincial funding each year. The Department of Education provides $3.2 million of this funding while the Department of Community Services provides $600,000. Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) is also supporting the school.

The conference is co-ordinated by the Northern Regional Planning Team under the auspices of the School of Adult Learning. The conference is sponsored by HRDC through the National Literacy Secretariat grants program and Labour Market Development Agreement.

The Northern Regional Planning Team includes the departments of Education, Community Services, HRDC, the Chignecto Central Regional School Board, the Nova Scotia Community College and community learning organizations in the counties of Pictou, Colchester, Cumberland and Hants.