B E R N I B R A D Y, D I R E C T O R

A O N T A S - T H E N A T I O N A L A D U LT L E A R N I N G O R G A N I S A T I O N , I R E L A N D

IMPACT SeminarCardiff, Wales

AONTAS, THE VOICE OF ADULT LEARNING

AONTAS, the Irish National Adult Learning Organisation NGO established 1969 500 members nationwide Core-funded by Government through SOLAS, the

Further Education and Training Authority

The mission of AONTAS is to advocate for the right of adults in Ireland to quality learning throughout their

lives, and to promote the value and benefits of lifelong learning

IRISH PIAAC RESULTS

18%

•of Irish adults are at or below Level 1 on the literacy scale. No statistical difference between the scores of males and females. Adults between the ages of 25-34 years have highest literacy score while adults aged 55-65 years have the lowest score

25%

•of Irish adults score at or below Level 1 on the numeracy scale. Males score higher than females by 12 points, adults aged 25-34 years have highest numeracy score while adults aged 55-65 years have the lowest scores.

42%

•of Irish adults scored at or below Level 1 on the problem solving in technology-rich environments (PS-TRE) scale. Males scored higher than females. 10% of adults surveyed said they had no computer experience, 5% failed the assessment and 17% opted not to take a computer based assessment

OECD

•The OECD has cautioned that the levels of PS-TRE are affected by the % of respondents who opted out of the computer based assessment. Therefore, the PS-TRE scores are not representative of the full population of computer users across the country.

Higher Sec-

ondary Educa-

tion 40%

Lower Secondary Education

18%

Higher Educa-

tion42%

QUALIFICATION LEVELS OF LABOUR FORCE

IRISH GOVERNMENT AGENDA

2012 – Launch of ‘Intreo’, one stop shop for unemployed

2013 – Establishment of Quality and Qualifications Ireland

2013 - Establishment of SOLAS (the Further Education and Training Authority)

2013 – Establishment of Education and Training Boards

2014 – Launch of FET Strategy

LITERACY AND NUMERACY STRATEGY

4,000 volunteers

1,500 paid tutors

46,000 adults attend ETB literacy programmes (2014)

Literacy and Numeracy Strategy built into FET Strategy based on review recommendations

Review of adult literacy provision (DES, 2013)

First initiated after White Paper, Learning for Life (2000)

Elements of Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

National promotional and awareness campaign

Broaden access routes to include blended and distance learning

Advocacy

Access

Target better outcomes through accredited provision and progression routesOutcomes

Integrate literacy and numeracy into FET programmesIntegration

Develop fit for purpose assessment and screening systemsAssessment

Develop data collection systems to better support review and evaluation

Research

Provide clear policy and provision for ESOL

Evaluation

Prioritise and increase numeracy provision

ESOL

Ensure quality through staff training and CPD

Provision

CPD

Identify and develop priority research with a focus on improving literacy and numeracy practice

Pillar 1: Promoting adult

learning opportunities

Pillar 2: Promoting the

benefits of Reading

Pillar 3: Promoting workplace

learning

Pillar 4: Promoting good

health and financial literacy

National Literacy and Numeracy Promotional and Awareness Campaign

Led by NALA, National Adult Literacy Agency and supported by the National Literacy and Numeracy Promotional Awareness-raising Steering Committee. Funded by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority

Key Messages and Promotion

Learn EverydayLearn for Life

Project One – One Step Up 2012 -2014

• National Co-ordinator DES• Steering Committee - chaired by DES• Partners

• ETBI• AONTAS• NALA

Project One - Outcomes

• One Step Up Referral Service• Training of Learning

Ambassadors• Encourage a Learner

Campaign• Promotion and

Dissemination Strategy

Basic Skills

47%

28%

11%10%

4%Employed

Longterm Unemployed

Unemployed

Other

Retired

Project Two – 2014 -2015

• National Co-ordinator AONTAS• Project Advisory Group - chaired by AONTAS• Partners

• ETBI• AONTAS• NALA

Project Two - Activities

• Development of OneStepUp and promotional campaign• Exploring PIAAC results

and organising dissemination seminars• Support ETBs to organise

promotional events• Reporting at year end

Feedback

• I find it easier to talk to someone (R1 Ambassador)

• Questions are easy to ask on the phone, not so easy face to face. It help

to break the ice (R11 Ambassador)

• The learner stories are very powerful and inspirational. I love this

feature of the site. Its so good that the site's easy to navigate (R4 In education and training)

Contact Us:

Freephone Helpline: 1800 303 669

Visit: www.onestepup.ie

Berni Brady – bbrady@aontas.com

www.aontas.com

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