Government Invests in Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning
EDUCATION--Government Invests in Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning
More adult learners in Nova Scotia will have more opportunities to improve their reading, writing and math, or to obtain an adult high school diploma.
Education Minister Angus MacIsaac announced a $700,000 investment in the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) today, May 27, at the Flexible Learning Education Centre at St. Patrick's- Alexandra School, Halifax. The funding will help reduce waiting lists and allow for flexible programs such as night school. New curriculum will also be developed to better prepare adults for today's labour market.
"The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning is brimming with success stories of people who are creating new opportunities for themselves," said Mr. MacIsaac. "This investment will enable more adults to pursue their dreams of getting a high school diploma, and realize the importance of lifelong learning."
More than 4,000 Nova Scotians are currently enrolled in programs supported by the school at 174 sites across the province. Delivery partners include the Nova Scotia Community College, Université Sainte-Anne-Collège de l'Acadie, five regional school boards and community-based learning organizations. In June, it is expected that more than 410 Nova Scotians will graduate with the adult diploma, more than double the number of graduates last year.
"Receiving my diploma opens up a whole new world for me," said Marilyn Boudreau, an adult learner at the Sackville Flexible Learning Education Centre. "I can be anything I want to be. I hope to work as a lab-tech and I will take with me the self- confidence that this school has helped me build."
The Nova Scotia School of Adult Learning is co-ordinated by the Department of Education, which oversees the delivery of programs, ranging from basic literacy to high school completion. The goal of the school is to provide opportunities for Nova Scotians to improve their reading, math, problem-solving and communication skills, as well as obtain a high school diploma, broaden opportunities for employment and increase their quality of life.
The total budget for the Nova Scotia School of Adult Learning in 2003-04 is about $4.5 million, including the funding announced today. The budget is funded by the departments of Education and Community Services. Human Resources Development Canada is also a funding partner.
The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning was established in 2001, as part of a government commitment. This spring, the government of Nova Scotia has invested an additional $1.5 million in skills-related initiatives including the school, skills development initiatives and Labour Market Information, as part of the provincial skills initiative, Skills Nova Scotia.