News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following message was issued today by Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr in recognition of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO's sponsorship of International Adult Learners' Week, March 31-April 5:

New Brunswick is pleased to support the Canadian Commission for UNESCO's efforts to promote International Adult Learners' Week 2014 and to support Canada's commitment to promoting education and adult literacy for sustainable development.

Improving literacy levels and essential skills is fundamental in supporting people, skills and jobs. A more skilled and productive workforce leads to a stronger economy and a better future for New Brunswick. It is a primary step in putting our best resources, our human resources, to work.

Literacy is a cornerstone for creating vibrant communities and that is why our government supports literacy initiatives that are community-based. We are proud to work in partnership with organizations like the Community Adult Learning Network, Laubach Literacy New Brunswick, New Brunswick Literacy Coalition, la Conseil pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences des adultes du Nouveau-Brunswick Inc. (previously called la Fédération du Nouveau-Brunswick), New Brunswick Public Library Service and Copian, (previously called the National Adult Literacy Database NALD), whose collective efforts help improve adult literacy skills.

Our government has set in motion, the implementation of our Working Together for Adult Literacy: An Adult Literacy Strategy for New Brunswick and the Labour Force and Skills Development Strategy. Our government has expanded initiatives and increased the number and range of our life-long learning opportunities.

We have increased funding to adult learning programs, through labour market agreements, by $4.6 million over the past four years. With this commitment we are reaching more New Brunswickers than ever. In fact, the number of adults involved in adult literacy and essential skills training has increased by 125 per cent over the last four years. Last year alone, 7,290 adults received assistance to reach their learning goals.

Our government has updated the Workplace Essential Skills program to make it more responsive to the specific needs of employed and unemployed adults so they can attain the literacy and essential skills they need to fully participate in today's workforce. The program helps about 1,000 learners annually.

We have also implemented a province-wide Digital Literacy Program, which has opened the door to technology to more than 2,700 individuals in its first year of provincial scope. Additionally, last year more than 3,100 adults received training in a Community Adult Learning Program, and numerous other individuals were assisted through our other targeted programs.

We have increased accessibility to resources at our public libraries. Through increased electronic resources and collections, and through the implementation of accessible workstations for those with disabilities, we are supporting adult learning.

We are also providing support to organizations like LearnSphere Online, which will help respond to some of our workforce development challenges by providing small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizations equal access to convenient, user-friendly and affordable online training.

Learning can be a powerful instrument for change - improving our overall health, civic engagement, and our quality of life. Our government will continue to work with our many community partners to enhance current efforts, reduce barriers to participation for adult learners and explore new ways to support adult literacy in New Brunswick.

I thank all of our partners for the important contributions they have made. I also thank adult learners who have courageously taken the initiative to return to learning and I wish you all the best in your continued progress.