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The Adult Education Association – on a mission to tackle illiteracy
The problem of illiteracy is a daunting crisis that certainly isn’t limited to the youths in the society. In fact, according to
Executive Director,
Ms Patricia David
Executive Director of the Adult Education Association (AEA), Ms Patricia David, there is a way too high percentage of young adults that are today severely illiterate. She explained during an interview with this publication recently that “some of them can hardly read and write.”
This state of affairs is therefore one that warrants urgent attention. However it was for the very purpose of addressing this level of illiteracy that the AEA was established way back in 1957.
In addition to a programme that deals specifically with school drop-outs, AEA also caters to persons who may have never attended school, some with very low levels of understanding, and even persons already in the workforce who are in need of improving themselves academically.
Although the task is often a gargantuan one, David disclosed that the tutors at the Carmichael Street, Georgetown institution are well trained for such teaching/learning situations.
“Our tutors have a more rigorous level of training to deal with such persons. We call it teaching of adults, and this is more or less what you call adult and continuing education,” said David, of the courses offered at AEA.
She pointed out that while courses are offered in phases depending on students’ levels, AEA has over the years been able to do what many other educational institutions may deem an impossible task. She related that many persons who were told that there was no hope for them academically, “we have brought them right up to the level of CXC.”
David reflected that many persons who are in crucial professional positions in the society today have passed through AEA. With a smile she recalled that AEA had produced two of the few students who passed the nursing examination recently when a startling percentage had failed.
According to David, too, AEA has been able to make a name for itself with the increasing number of passes its students have been gaining at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination. At the most recent examination, the Executive Director disclosed that more than 60 students were entered, and based on the results obtained, more than 70 per cent gained Grade One to Three passes.
The two top performing CSEC candidates produced by AEA this year are in fact siblings who, according to David, were among those that were classified as hopeless.
“Their parents had lost hope in the school system and took them out and sent them to our evening classes,” said David as she related how they both were able to each secure quite a few distinctions.
The Carmichael Street, Georgetown, Adult Education Association office.
The outstanding performances that AEA has been able to realise over the years, David said, is more than enough reason for sustained efforts to be made to continue its work of teaching the in excess of 500 students it caters to annually.
Aside from its students’ fees, the organisation is able to finance its operation with monthly Government subvention. And though in order to secure the subvention tedious paperwork is required, David noted that the organisation is only too happy to do so in order for the much needed support.
Currently AEA also has branches at Berbice and Bartica which produce laudable results, similar to what is obtained at the Georgetown facility.
According to David, the importance of facilities such as AEA in the society cannot be downplayed, even as she pointed out that “adult and continuing education is a really important feature that must continue…”
“Because of the amount of social problems, people drop out of school and they are robbed of a basic education, and it can be for economic reasons or it can be as a result of a broken home and lots of other family issues,” the Executive Director asserted.
In addition to its regular programmes, AEA is also currently offering a USAID-sponsored Literacy Programme to at-risk youths in Regions Three, Four and Six.
And just recently the institution announced that it will be closely collaborating with the Caribbean Examinations Council to offer a “Second Chance” programme to young people, aimed at ensuring that they are able to aptly qualify themselves for the world of employment.
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