The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) has launched ‘Take the First Step’, a national public information campaign to encourage those who have difficulties with literacy and numeracy to contact them or their local Education and Training Board to get the help they need to improve their skills. 

The campaign is a joint initiative between the Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), SOLAS (the Further Education and Training Authority) and NALA. The opportunity is free and open to all, with participants able to choose what, where and when they want to learn. 

The OECD Survey of Adult Skills shows that about 18% of Irish adults (aged 16 to 65) are at or below level one on a five-level literacy scale. It also shows 25% of Irish adults scored at or below level one for numeracy. A recent Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) report shows that 55% of the adult population in Ireland (25 to 64) has low digital skills.

Taking the first steps on any difficult journey requires courage and commitment – and for those who have difficulties with reading, writing, maths or technology, the stigma attached can prove daunting and discouraging. Often people who return to education say the hardest part was making the first call or taking the first step into an Adult Education Centre. The campaign includes radio and digital advertising and features people from different parts of the country talking about how returning to education has changed their lives and encourages others to give it a go.

The Freephone number is 1800 20 20 65 or website www.takethefirststep.ie . NALA is also offering a distance learning service that provides tutoring options for people over the phone or electronically, as well as e-learning programmes such as http://www.learnwithnala.ie.

The ‘Take the First Step’ campaign encourages adults who have difficulty with reading, writing, maths or technology to contact a Freephone support line 1800 20 20 65 or free text LEARN to 50050 to get the help they need.  Once they make contact the National Adult Literacy Agency will put them in contact with their local ETB Adult Education Centre or tell them about other free services that will meet their needs.