Integrating Literacy

The highlights in this annual report was the establishment of a Literacy Implementation Group to develop a national implementation plan for adult literacy. It also contains updates on the development of a national reporting system, on our assessment framework for literacy, our ESOL policy, our advocacy work and the launch of our Health Literacy Strategy Report.

This edition of Literacy Matters keeps you posted about literacy matters in Ireland and up to date about NALA's news, upcoming events and ongoing work. In this issue we have articles on the filming of our DVD 'Take on Learning: Take on Life', a radio interview with a literacy student, Gruntvig: Promoting innovation in adult education and much more.

This edition focuses on NALA's work in areas such as assessment, literacy as a barrier to health, English for Speakers of a Second Language and Models of Family Literacy. It also contains external reviews such as one from South Tipperary Riding Council of the Return to Learning Initiative for workplace basic education and another from Marie Dolan on the National Tutor's forum.

This is the Agency's first strategic plan. The plan was based on consultation with our Executive, staff and members and was developed in a time when the adult literacy issue was very much to the forefront, following the International Adult Literacy Survey, 1997.

The highlight in our 2008 annual report was our publicity work to raise awareness of the opportunities available to motivate people to return to learning, in particular our campaign work. It also contains a summary of our work in TV distance education (capturing 14% of the viewing audience), training developments in integrating literacy, clients of our Plain English Service and much more besides...