 by Judy Baker, Provincial Adult and
Family Literacy Coordinator The objectives of Adult Learning and Literacy (ALL) are to enable Manitobans to have the ability to understand and employ information (reading, writing, numeracy) in daily living at work, at home, and in the community and to obtain high school credentials so they can access higher education and/or better employment opportunities. The objectives include developing the capacity in the province to respond to the needs of the non-sequential adult learner with greater flexibility, effectiveness and efficiency. These objectives are met through the provision of two programs: adult learning centres and community-based adult literacy. The professional staff of the Unit provide service to the entire province. Adult Learning Centres Following a comprehensive consultation with stakeholders, program-based funding for adult learning centres (ALCs) was implemented in the 2001-02 school year. In February 2001 an Adult Learning Centre Policy Handbook was released detailing the definition, funding processes and accountability measures that would apply to adult learning centres for the 2001-2002 school year. During March and April of 2001 five centres piloted a Good Practice Guide for Adult Learning Centres. Adult learning centres seeking program funding first applied for grants in March 2001. In 2001/02 a total of 47 adult education programs were funded. These funds provided continuing support to 42 community-based adult learning centre programs that had received funding in 2000-01. One new program operated by Evergreen School Division received funding effective January 1, 2002 to provide educational programming to an under-served region. Funding also was provided for tuition-free ABE programs at Red River College and Assiniboine Community College, and for a limited number of online courses from InForMnet. In addition, the International Centre of Winnipeg received funding to provide a high-quality assessment and referral service to Manitoba's immigrant community. Between September 1, 2001 and March 1, 2002 more than 6,800 learners registered for approximately 21,000 courses at ALCs. By March 2002 approximately 3,802 courses had already been completed for credit. Final course completion statistics would not be available until fall of 2002. Two thirds of ALC learners are female. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a priority of the Manitoba Training Strategy and is a significant focus of ALC service to learners.
A three year pilot project to develop and implement pathways of dual credit options with college and university courses has been implemented at the Brandon Adult Learning Centre, which partners with Assiniboine College. As of January 2002, there were 143 adults taking dual credit courses. Community-based Adult Literacy Programs In 2001-02 Adult Learning and Literacy provided grants to 36 community-based groups from urban, rural and Northern Manitoba, representing Aboriginal, multicultural, Francophone, and inmate populations. Mid-year statistics collected in February 2002 indicated that over 2,100 individuals participated in literacy activities. Learners= primary reasons for attending were: preparation for employment or job advancement (29%), upgrading to enter further education and training (24%), and personal reasons (47%). In community-based literacy programming there were 802 male participants, and 1,323 females; 20% of participants were in the 18-25 age group, 46% in the 26-40 age group, 23% were in the 41-55 age group and 6% were over 55; 31% were self-identified as Aboriginal learners; 24% of participants were learners for whom English was not their first language (German, French, an aboriginal language, others); 35% of all participants were employed while enrolled. Year-end statistics for 2001-02 are not available until fall, however year-end statistics for 2000-01 indicate that literacy learners are successful in achieving their goals: 12% reported that they found employment, 10% accessed further training and 51% achieved personal goals. 35% of participants were employed while enrolled in literacy programs and were able to increase their proficiency in job-related literacy skills. Support activities Staff provides training for literacy working groups, practitioners and volunteer tutors in community-based literacy programs, and to directors and practitioners in adult learning centres. Staff also provides assistance in the development and acquisition of learning materials, assistance in program evaluation, and co-ordination of awareness raising and networking activities. In addition to the PLAR training described above, over 35 other professional development events for adult educators in ALCs and Literacy Programs were made available by Adult Learning and Literacy throughout the province, with a total of 497 individual registrations. ALL also sponsored a conference in October 2001 attended by approximately 130 adult educators in ALCs and Literacy programs. Staff regularly monitors the quality of ALC and literacy provision through site visits to programs. Another major function of the Unit is to assist the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) to select literacy projects for their federal literacy grant program and to monitor the projects on their behalf. NLS projects provide an essential support to the literacy field, providing grants for demonstration projects, curriculum development, research, and promotion/awareness raising, areas that are not funded by the Province. Also, Community Learning and Youth Programs, in partnership with the NLS, contracted with Statistics Canada for a Manitoba over-sample in the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS-2002) and arranged a second NLS partnership with Aboriginal and Northern Affairs and the Native Education Secretariat for an urban (Winnipeg) Aboriginal IALLS sample. Adult Learning and Literacy was involved in activities designed to raise public awareness of literacy issues. Staff participated in regional Learners' and Practitioners' Conferences, where workshops were delivered. Another activity was assisting the Lieutenant Governor's office in awarding the eleventh Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Literacy. In addition, staff assisted provincially funded groups and non-funded groups, and Literacy Partners of Manitoba to raise awareness with projects such as International Literacy Day, the 1-800-LEARN Line and Family Literacy Day. |