Adult Educators to Share Ideas, Best Practices and Resources
EDUCATION--Adult Educators to Share Ideas, Best Practices and Resources
More than 70 adult educators, government and community representatives from the southwestern region of the province are meeting to share ideas, best practices and resources at the Sailing to Success conference beginning today, April 21, at White Point Beach Resort.
The three-day conference is the first event of its kind in the region. Participants will share ideas, review adult literacy best practices and celebrate the many successes realized by people and organizations serving adult learners through the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning.
"We're pleased to work with our partners in this region to advance adult education in the province," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "These educators, and people like them, are having a tremendous impact. They've helped hundreds of adults in the southwestern region learn to read, write and prepare themselves for better jobs and more fulfilling lives."
Eric Tetford has been involved in adult literacy in Nova Scotia for more than 10 years. Today he will tell conference participants about his approach to building successful partnerships, explaining how these partnerships can lead to innovative ideas, such as a literacy float for the Christmas parade.
"Sailing to Success is a great opportunity for adult literacy practitioners to come together to share ideas, resources and best practices," said Mr. Tetford, a member of the conference planning team and the co-ordinator of the community-based Yarmouth and Shelburne Learning Networks.
The Department of Education launched the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning in September 2001 to help adult Nova Scotians access better co-ordinated education programs throughout the province. The programs range from beginning literacy to high school completion.
Increasing lifelong learning opportunities is part of Skills Nova Scotia, which provides opportunities for better education and training for all Nova Scotians, including adult learners.
Sailing to Success is a professional development conference sponsored by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada through the National Literacy Secretariat. The conference planning team is made up of Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning representatives from the departments of Community Services and Education, Nova Scotia Community College's Lunenburg and Burridge campuses, the Tri-county and South Shore district school boards, the Yarmouth and Shelburne County Learning Networks, the Queens County Learning Network, and the Lunenburg County Adult Learning Network.
"The Nova Scotia Community College, School of Access, is very excited to participate and contribute to the conference," said Shelly Kelly, adult learning program counsellor, Lunenburg Campus, and a member of the planning team. "It has been a privilege to work with all the partners in Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties to bring excellence to the people who are passionate about literacy in Nova Scotia and in their communities."
Literacy and upgrading programs across the province are delivered by community-based learning networks, school board adult high schools and by community colleges. Last year more than 4,000 adult students were enrolled at various levels of study with these delivery partners.