School's in at Word on the Street

Come and experience an adult learning class, and learn how literacy affects many aspects of our lives at the Literacy Tent at Word on the Street, Sunday, Sept. 28, at Pier 20.

"What is Literacy Today?" is the theme inside this year's Literacy Tent, co-hosted by the Department of Education and Literacy Nova Scotia.

For many Nova Scotians Word on the Street is a celebration of reading and books, but about 25 per cent of Nova Scotians have great difficulty reading books, prescription labels, or even the newspaper.

"This year's Literacy Tent will help demonstrate the importance of reading and writing for adults, which the Department of Education is addressing through the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "We are working to give everyone the chance to upgrade their skills and to learn new skills throughout their lives, so that they can enjoy a successful and strong future, here in Nova Scotia."

The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) is part of the Skills Nova Scotia initiative. It funds and co-ordinates a range of education programs for adults who want to improve their reading and math skills or complete their high school diploma. Currently more than 4,000 Nova Scotians are taking adult education programs through NSSAL.

The Literacy Tent, just one of the many tents at Word on the Street, will feature demonstrations of typical adult learning situations in a classroom setting. Additional displays will show how better literacy improves family and work life, contributes to personal health, and lessens the demands on the justice system.