The theme for this year is ‘Sometimes it’s the little things in life that can become the biggest problem’. For example, spelling, texting, adding up a bill, using new technology at work or getting a basic qualification.
NALA will be promoting their referral service to local literacy courses nationwide from Monday 22 to Friday 26 of September. An Post continues to work with NALA to raise awareness of the literacy issue in Ireland - informing people about all the free courses available to improve their reading, writing and maths skills.
An Post’s highly effective and recognisable ad campaign ‘Take the first step’ will be on air for two weeks promoting free phone and free text numbers to put people in contact with NALA.
NALA’s national, free-phone line is operated by experienced staff who can identify learner’s needs and advise them on literacy services available to them.
It’s easy to get in contact with NALA by either free-phone ton 1800 20 20 65 or free-text 50050 to get help finding the nearest literacy service. There is also the chance to do a distance education course online or over the phone with NALA.
“Sometimes people are very worried about returning to education and hide their difficulties with reading and writing from their friends and family. However, this does not have to be the case and we would encourage anyone to drop by our stand at the National Ploughing Championships and talk to students who have returned to education,” said Inez Bailey, Director, National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).
Currently there are 55,000 people attending literacy and numeracy courses nationwide. These courses are provided by local Education and Training Boards (ETBs – formerly known as your VEC).
National Adult Literacy Awareness Week is held every year in September to raise awareness of tuition options nationally and highlight the benefits of improving reading, writing and maths skills. It includes awareness raising events, open days in many local adult literacy centres, a national advertising campaign sponsored by An Post and a stand at the National Ploughing Championships in Stradbally, County Laois.
National Adult Literacy Awareness Week coincides with the National Ploughing Championships.
Tony Moloney from Cork and Kevin O’Duffy from Offaly are just some of the students who will be there talking to the public about the benefits of returning to education.
(National Adult Literacy Agency stand, DUHALLOW, Block 1, Row 29, Stand 502, Unit 21)
Both men returned to education to improve their reading, writing and maths skills and during the three day event, they hope to meet and encourage others who might be thinking about it, to ‘give it a go’.
Like many people with literacy difficulties, Tony Moloney, thought he was the only one. “I thought I was alone and that it was a shameful thing. If I ever had to deal with anything official, it hung over me like a huge fear in case I’d be asked to read,” he says.
However, since attending adult education classes everything has changed. “Going back to education has inspired and empowered me,” says Tony. “I can’t praise the tutors in Youghal enough, they’ve given me the confidence to try anything,” says Tony.
It’s Kevin O’Duffy’s seventh year attending the National Ploughing Championships with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) and he knows how difficult it can be for some farmers.
“The way things have gone there is a form coming through the letter box every second day. The trouble was when I wanted to fill in a form or write a letter. I’d know I’d written it wrong but I didn’t know what the correct way was,” he says.
Like many people in Ireland, Kevin had difficulties with reading and writing. While he wanted to improve these skills he was very worried about going back to education. “The biggest fear I had was that friends and people I knew would find out that I had this problem and they’d make a sort of a laugh out of me.” However, after taking the brave decision to attend a local adult literacy centre, he soon found out that he wasn’t alone – currently there are 55,000 adults attending literacy courses nationwide.
“I was very nervous crossing the door of the centre. But it also was a huge weight off my shoulders and I’ve never looked back,” he says. “That’s why I’m going next week, for the seventh year running. I want to tell other people in the farming community who may have problems writing or using the computer that there’s nothing to be worried about – going back to education was the best decision I ever made. Not only did I improve my writing skills but it gave me the confidence to do lots of other things. It’s also great craic as you meet lots of other people in the same boat,” says Kevin.