Adult Learners Graduate in Annapolis Valley
The last time Uta Othmer saw the inside of a classroom was more than 30 years ago in Germany when she completed a Grade 11 diploma. After raising her children, the Windsor, N.S. resident went looking for work and found that the only jobs she could get were at low or minimum wage. So, at 50 years of age, she enrolled at Windsor Adult High School.
"The adult high school has been a very gratifying experience and I've felt at home for two years," said Ms. Othmer. "I've proven to myself that I am capable of whatever school throws at me."
This year, more than 500 adult learners across the province will receive their high school graduation diploma through support from the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning. On Thursday, June 29, Ms. Othmer will be one of 17 in the region. A graduation ceremony for adult learners at the Kings County Adult High School will also take place today, June 28.
The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning co-ordinates a range of education programs for adults who want to improve their reading and math skills, or complete their high school diploma. This year marks the school's fifth anniversary and the graduation of about 2,000 adult Nova Scotians with a high school diploma.
"There have been more than 20,000 enrollments in the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning in five years. It meets a significant need in our province for adults to improve their education, and ultimately, their job skills," said Education Minister Karen Casey. "I congratulate the graduates for taking steps toward a brighter future for themselves and their families."
The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning works in partnership with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), regional school boards, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to offer programs at more than 170 sites across the province. The high school graduation diploma for adults was introduced in 2001.
Gregory Mackin, co-ordinator of community education for Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, points out that adult high school goes beyond traditional ideas about education. "Adult education concerns itself with everything that affects the well-being of all citizens within a given community," he said. According to Mr. Mackin, adult education identifies the community's needs, problems, wants and resources and then acts as a catalyst in the development of facilities, programs and leadership to meet those needs.
The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning is part of the provincial government's Skills Nova Scotia initiative that involves job skills training, workplace learning, and basic literacy skills upgrading.