Sir, - One day about 15 years ago, a woman called to my office. She had wanted to speak with me for some time and had finally summoned up the courage to do so. After some hesitation, she explained that she had severe difficulties with reading and writing and wished to seek help.
Her visit now was prompted by a difficulty that arose when she went to enrol one of her children in primary school. Presented by the school principal with a form to fill, she was confused, embarrassed and even ashamed. Now, as she remembered, she cried again. I referred her to the local adult literacy scheme, which was small and struggling and dependent entirely on the services of a voluntary organiser and voluntary tutors.
Ten years later, I spoke with this woman again. She was now preparing to sit her first formal State examination in English and had been studying the Yeats poem, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death. She spoke of the difficulty which the poem and the whole concept of poetry had presented for her. As she explained how gradually she came to understand the poem's meaning and the manner of its expression, the sheer joy of discovery was reflected in her voice and in her face.
It was clear then to all who were listening that the inability to read and write does not just represent failure for people but that it is a corrosive, destructive disability. It was then too that I realised that those of us who have always had the gift will never fully understand what it means to be deprived of it.
I relate this now because on November 6th, the National Adult Literacy Agency hosted a conference at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. When the programme was first issued, the Minister for Education was listed as opening the conference. Since he was not available, it was expected that the junior Minister, who has a special responsibility for adult education matters, would attend. As it happened, neither Minister appeared and they were represented by an official from the Department of Education, who read a prepared speech, made his apologies and took his leave.
Assembled in this great hall in Kilmainham were people, both volunteers and professionals, who have worked for many years to provide a service for those of our people who have fundamental literacy problems. Present also were literacy workers from European countries which have funding and resources and present too were adult literacy students who have overcome fear and shame and are willing to speak openly and freely about their ongoing difficulties.
Those who remained spent the day discussing with each other, once more, how to recruit effectively, how to manage miserable budgets, how to support, encourage and facilitate and yes, how to engage in effective political lobbying. Imagine! Learning to lobby politicians to address this country's adult literacy problems! Missing from this gathering were those who can provide solutions.
I write this now because we would like the Minister and the Department officials to know that we feel disappointment and the same old despair. And we feel anger and resentment. We feel this particularly for our friends who do not themselves have the opportunity, the ability, or the confidence to put their own case. The presence of a Minister at this transnational event would have been an indication of interest and an assurance that action is about to be taken.
The day after the NALA conference the newspapers carried pictures of the Minister for Education announcing the allocation of £250 million to ensure that our children are computer literate. The papers did not carry pictures on the Minister announcing the allocation of £250,000 to ensure that our adults are literate. And, to put this latter allocation into perspective, this sum of £250,000 will have to be divided between 38 VECs.
The recent OECD report has highlighted clearly the extent of the adult literacy problems in this country. More importantly, it has underlined the necessity for urgent action.
It is inconceivable, in this booming economy of Celtic Tigers and brown paper bags, that sufficient resources cannot be made available to provide a reasonable adult literacy service. Now. Not after the next Budget, not after a Green Paper, then a White Paper have been published. Now.
It is inconceivable that the problem will continue to be ignored by Ministers and officials, as it has been ignored for so long.
It is inconceivable that the citizens and taxpayers of this State will refuse to come to the aid of those of our people who are denied the right to read. - Yours, etc.,
Adult Education Organiser, Co Dublin VEC, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16.