1. Providing Accredited Courses for Adult Literacy Practitioners in Ireland

2. The Literacy Development Centre Partnership between WIT and NALA Waterford Institute of Technology National Adult Literacy Agency Funded directly by Irish Department of Education and Science Students work in local Literacy Schemes Adult Literacy Tutors or Organisers

3. Courses on offer in 2005-6 Higher Certificate in Arts in Literacy Development B.A. (Ordinary) in Adult Education Proposed – B.A. (Honours) in Adult Education

4. International Adult Literacy Survey Results for Ireland published in 1997 25% of Adults at level 1 30% of Adults at level 2 34% at Level 3 (necessary for functioning in everyday life) 13.5% at levels 4/5

5. Our Students – Structure they work in Vocational Education Committees (part of local government) They run – Second-level schools Literacy Schemes Youthreach Senior Traveller Training Centres Back to Education Programmes for Unemployed Adults

6. Literacy Schemes Adult Literacy Organiser Recognised Position Required Qualifications: Our Certificate, Diploma or B.A. A Degree Adult Literacy Tutor Unrecognised Position

7. The Structure within which We Work Regional Technical Colleges set up in 1970s - renamed Institutes of Technology Their function: to provide technological education in the regions To provide educated workforce To attract new industry

8. Accredited Courses for Adults WIT Department of Adult Education forms partnerships with: National Adult Literacy Agency Women’s Groups Accredited courses for: Adult Literacy Practitioners Community Activists

9. Marginal Status of Adult Education It exists within structures whose main focus is initial education Structures promised in 2000 – not yet realised It is self-financing – initial education is not

10. The Discourse of ‘Lifelong Learning’ What does it imply? Economic Focus – employability Individual responsibility for keeping up with economic change?

11. List of Acronyms ALO -Adult Literacy Organiser APEL -Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning DES -Department of Education and Science HETAC - Higher Education and Training Awards Council NALA -National Adult Literacy Agency NCEA -National Council for Educational Awards NQAI -National Qualifications Authority of Ireland VEC -Vocational Education Committee WIT -Waterford Institute of Technology