What does literacy means to a literacy learner?

“I want to tell you what it’s like learning to read at 38 years of age. Every day of your life is frustration, fear, anger, isolation and rage when you don’t know how to read. You’ve got no self-esteem.

When I was carrying my first child I remember thinking to myself, ‘I won’t be able to read stories to her.’ ...I remember the first time I actually read a book from cover to cover. It was only a thin book with pictures in it. I wanted to open the window and shout it out to the whole world, ‘Hey look. I’ve just read my first book, all by myself, without any help from anyone! I can read! I can read!’ I found myself reading the book over and over again, out loud. It’s a fantastic feeling—being able to read.”
~ Sue Torr, adult literacy learner at the World Education Forum 2000

About GED Tests

One of the single most important adult learning opportunities available to Islanders is the General Educational Development (GED) testing program. The GED is an internationally recognized program which enables people to receive their grade 12 equivalency by passing a series of five tests in reading, writing, math, science and social studies.

During the past five years, 1,653 Islanders received their grade 12 equivalency by passing their GED exams. The average age of people who pass the GED in PEI is 32 years.

Any resident of PEI who is 18 years or older can take the exams for a fee of $20. The tests take about seven hours to write. People may choose to write them all over a two-day period or by writing one exam at a time over a longer period.

Courses are offered at Holland College and community learning centres to help people prepare for the exams. Course materials are also available for self-directed learners who wish to prepare on their own.

The GED program is an opportunity for many to pursue their high school equivalency later in life in order to further their education or get a better job.

“The GED program is important to individual Islanders who want to become a better role model for their families, improve their personal satisfaction and standard of living. It is also important to society which now requires a more highly skilled and educated workforce than ever before,” says Minister of Education Mildred Dover.

For information on the GED program: contact Luann MacAusland at
902-368-5988 or by e-mail at:lnmacausland@edu.pe.ca