1. Professional Development in the Field of Literacy and Basic Education in Ireland

2. Vocational Education committees
Set up in (part of local government)
They run –
Second-level schools
Literacy Schemes
Youthreach
Senior Traveller Training Centres
Back to Education Programmes for Unemployed Adults

3. Adult Literacy Education Prior to IALS
Voluntary Community Effort
1984 – funding stream set up by VECs on ad-hoc basis
Limited service provided in some areas by VECs
1997 funding m learners

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. Government Response to IALS
Green Paper on Adult Education 1998
Proposed increased funding
Proposed recognition of Adult Educators
Proposed development of training routes

6. Government Response to IALS
White Paper on Adult Education –Learning for Life
Increase in funding – from €.85m in 1997 to €23m in 2006
Recognition of Adult Literacy Organiser as full-time post in VEC
Increased funding for awareness campaigns

7. Government Response to IALS
National Development Plan
Adult Literacy is top priority in Adult Education
Social Partnership agreement commits to 7000 new places in VEC Adult Literacy Service – up to 42,000 by 2009

8. Adult Literacy Education in Ireland
90% of service in VECs (33 in Ireland)
Funded by Government
1:1 and Group Tuition
1500 people in paid employment
3000 volunteers
2 hours tuition per week free
Progression to accredited programmes offered

9. Literacy Service Adult Literacy Organiser Adult Literacy Tutor
Recognised Position
Required Qualifications:
WIT Certificate or B.A.
A Degree
Adult Literacy Tutor
Unrecognised Position
Part-time paid hours for group tuition

10. 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

11. Courses on offer in
Higher Certificate in Arts in Literacy Development (Level 6)
B.A. (Ordinary) in Adult Education (Level 7)
B.A. (Honours) in Adult Education (Level 8)

12. Literacy Teachers’ competences
Understanding of adults with literacy difficulties
Intellectual appreciation of impact of literacy difficulties on an adult’s participation in society
Ability to interact with adults with literacy difficulties
Appreciation of social practice model of literacy

13. Experience in the field of adult basic education
Ability to teach reading, writing, numeracy to adults
Strong interpersonal skills
An ability to employ a range of teaching methodologies suitable for adults
Excellent presentation skills
Understanding of curriculum, learning outcomes and assessment in ABE

14. Appreciation of learning difficulties
Understanding of psychology and philosophy of adult learning
Knowledge of range of ICT tools that can be used when working with adults with literacy difficulties
Ability to work with individual learners and groups and develop a safe learning environment with mutual trust and respect.