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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT AT THE CONFERRING OF THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE CONFERRING OF THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

As patron of the National Adult Literacy Agency, I am particularly pleased to be with you this afternoon. I wish to thank Waterford Institute of Technology and the National Adult Literacy Agency for the kind invitation to be with you on the occasion of the graduation of the class of 1998 in the National Certificate in Training and Development. What more fitting place to host the conferring than here at the Dublin Writers’ Museum.

As you will probably know already, I am the Patron of a number of organisations who do excellent work for many different groups of people. At this stage I am glad to say that I have met most of these organisations either in Áras an Uachtaráin or at individual functions I have attended. I recall that my first meeting with the National Adult Literacy Agency was in March last and your Director, Inez Bailey who is here today was there on that occasion also. That meeting with the National Adult Literacy Agency was one of the most interesting encounters that I have had since becoming President.

Even now all these months later I can still remember one woman there, who had hidden her illiteracy problem for years and only revealed it when her son, who was in Germany, wrote to her and she found that she could not respond. What struck me then and I must say I have thought of many times since is that illiteracy was to her a prison – with impenetrable walls which omitted her from the whole world of experience and wonder which could be accessed through reading.

There are many reasons why so many people find themselves with a literacy problem, through family circumstances, economic necessity or perhaps through school experiences. What I think is important to remember is that it is never too late to address this situation and to enjoy the many rewards that literacy education can bring.

The National Adult Literacy Agency are providing a vital lifeline to those who have been caught in that trap and who have been excluded because of their predicament.

I congratulate you the recipients of the National Certificate in Training and Development. I understand that this course was developed by the National Adult Literacy Agency in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology and is accredited by the National Council for Educational Awards. The course is aimed at organisers of Adult Literacy Schemes throughout the country. It provides a third level qualification which accredits the knowledge, skills and practice involved in the management of this specific sector of adult basic education.

Waterford Institute of Technology can proudly claim to be the first of the colleges to establish a Department to oversee and develop the commitment of the College to continuing education and to forge links with the community in that context. It is now one of the largest colleges in the country, although it was only established in 1970 and has more than 4,000 full-time and 3,500 part-time students.

The partnership between the Waterford Institute of Technology and the Adult National Literacy Agency drew on the expertise of both organisations and made possible the development and implementation of this programme for Adult Literacy Managers according to a rational which is underpinned by the key principals of adult education.

Illiteracy is a blight that regrettably remains all too prominent in Ireland today. Recently an international literacy survey showed that the problem here was much worse than had been previously estimated. The Government have recognised the seriousness of the problem and last year appointed a Minister of State for Adult Education and substantially increased the Adult Education Budget.

I would like to finish by congratulating everyone receiving the National Certificate in Training and Development today. I congratulate you, as I congratulate the National Adult Literacy Agency and Waterford Institute of Technology for providing this programme which has made a significant contribution to the professional development of Adult Literacy organisations.

Thank You.