Ms Bailey was speaking in advance of a cross-border conference ‘Making it work: integrating essential skills and literacy into training and further education’. The aim of the conference is to inform education and training providers about how to integrate course-related literacy and numeracy development into their programmes. The conference will also highlight the business benefits of providing opportunities for employees to develop their literacy skills in the workplace.

The conference is a joint initiative between the Learning and Skills Development Agency Northern Ireland (LSDA NI) and National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). It is being held today, Wednesday 26 November at Ballymascanlon House Hotel, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

Trevor Carson, Director of LSDA NI, said:

““This is the first time that LSDA NI will be holding a cross-border literacy event and we are delighted to be working jointly with NALA on the conference.

“In Northern Ireland 24% of the population have difficulties with literacy and/or numeracy, while in the Republic of Ireland 25% of adults still lack very basic skills in literacy and numeracy.

“There are great benefits to be had in both economies, North and South, from a coordinated approach towards literacy. We are keen to highlight these to employers, representatives of the further education and training sector and other stakeholders in education. I believe that we can learn a lot from examples of best practice in the Republic of Ireland while at the same time there are many areas where representatives from the South can learn from policies and approaches adopted in Northern Ireland.”

Keynote speakers at the conference include Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning, NI and Mr Sean Haughey, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, RoI. Delegates at the event will hear from literacy champions such as Dr Rosie Wickert of Southern Cross University, Australia and Dr Ursula Howard of the University of London, previously director of the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy.

An example of best practice for integrating literacy into the workplace will be given by Patrick McCartan, CBE, Chairman of Belfast Health and Social Services Board. Kathleen Cramer, Manager of the Youth Training and Development Centre in Newbridge Co Kildare, will give an account of how her centre applies the integrated approach. Blathnaid Ni Chinneide from the National Adult Literacy Agency will describe NALA’s experience in this area and outline guidelines for integrating literacy into training and further education.

NALA is an independent membership organisation which offers advisory services in adult literacy work in the Republic of Ireland and develops policy and research. LSDA NI is part of the Learning and Skills Network (LSN), which is an organisation committed to making a difference to education and training.

Ends

For more information contact:
Clare McNally, Public Relations Officer, National Adult Literacy Agency, 01 8509109 or 087 6486292

Eleanor Anderson, Stakeholder Communications, 02890 339949 or 07834101627

Notes to editors
About LSDA NI
Learning and Skills Development Agency Northern Ireland (LSDA NI) is part of the Learning and Skills Network (LSN), an independent not for profit organisation committed to making a difference to education and training.

The work of LSDA NI involves research, policy advice, professional and organisational development, and curriculum support for all learning providers involved in post-16 education and training.

LSDA NI was launched in September 2003. The focus of its work is curriculum development, essential skills, quality improvement, the ‘lecturers into industry’ initiative and governor training.

Post-16 education and training (outside the universities) in Northern Ireland is managed and funded by the Department for Employment and Learning and others.

About NALA
The National Adult Literacy Agency is an independent membership organization, concerned with developing policy, advocacy, research and offering advisory services in adult literacy work in Ireland. NALA was established in 1980 and has campaigned since then for the recognition of, and response to, the adult literacy issue in Ireland.

NALA has been involved in the development of workplace basic education since the late 1990’s when they began raising awareness of the issue, became involved in pilot programmes and lobbied for recognition and investment in the area.

According to the last international survey about half a million Irish adults have problems with basic reading, writing and maths.

NALA is principally funded by the Department of Education and Science.