Literacy provision in Ireland
How is literacy tuition provided?
Overall responsibility for adult basic education provision lies with the Government, in particular the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment. Adult literacy work takes place in a range of different settings and contexts.
VEC adult literacy service
Local VEC adult literacy services are headed by the Chief Executive Officer of the individual VECs and supported by the Adult Education Organiser.The local service is managed by an Adult Literacy Organiser, sometimes working with resource and
outreach workers, and usually includes:
- one-to-one tuition, mainly provided by volunteer tutors who are trained locally to an agreed national standard;
- group tuition, typically involving no more than six to eight learners working together or individually in a group setting.
Adult Literacy Scheme
Literacy tuition is provided as part of several training and work experience programmes. Many of these provide dedicated literacy and numeracy tuition alongside integrated provision, where vocational trainers build literacy and numeracy development into their subject areas
Organisations that work with people with disabilities
Many organisations working with people with a range of disabilities include
literacy and numeracy as a key element of their programmes in local and national centres.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
A wide range of organisations play a significant role in developing ESOL policy and practice. ESOL is a significant part of adult basic education.
Family literacy
Family literacy programmes help to develop literacy and numeracy learning in a family context and encourage adults to learn for their own personal development and for the benefit of their children. Family learning involves partnership between the adult literacy service, schools and local communities and services.
Prisons and post-release projects
Education in Irish prisons is run jointly by local VECs and the Irish Prison Service. Literacy and numeracy tuition is given high priority in prisons and post-release centres.
Community Development Projects
Local Area Partnerships and other community development projects are also involved in adult literacy work.
Libraries
Libraries have an important role in literacy development at local level, particularly in relation to materials and access to technology.
