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NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency)
NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency) The National Adult Literacy Agency is an Irish independent charity committed to making sure that people with literacy and numeracy difficulties can fully take part in society and have access to learning opportunities that meet their needs. According to the last international survey, one in four - that is, about half a million - Irish adults have problems reading and writing.

History NALA was formally set up in 1980 by volunteers concerned at the lack of response to adults with literacy and numeracy difficulties in Ireland. They, along with a small staff set up Ireland’s response to adult literacy. They launched a nationwide awareness raising campaign on adult literacy services, pioneered new teaching methods, created policy on good adult literacy work and organised events for adult literacy students and volunteer tutors.

By the mid 1990s, NALA concentrated on the professionalisation of the adult literacy service, with a focus on training and development. The publication of the first Irish survey of adult literacy in 1997 provided an impetus to address adult literacy on a bigger scale. The survey showed that one in four adults had very low levels of literacy skills and a further 30% had below average skills. NALA's funding was increased and they intensified their efforts to get appropriate responses to adult literacy, involving providers of education and training and services working with the unemployed. They conducted research on the barriers facing adults with literacy difficulties in returning to learning, led a European project on quality assurance in adult literacy education and ran a vigorous pre-election campaign which got literacy on the political agenda. The first ever National Adult Literacy Programme (2000) was heavily influenced by NALA’s work.

The 2000s were marked by their growing expertise in adult literacy, their adeptness at influencing adult literacy policy and their ability to lead and support good practice. They also launched a TV series about adult literacy on RTÉ One. Called Read Write Now, it influenced thousands of people to return to education and was followed by 8 more TV series including The Really Useful Guide to Words and Numbers and more recently Written Off? During this time they have supported thousands of adults learning by posting workbooks to them and providing tutor support over the phone and internet.

NALA's Work NALA's work includes helping people to improve their literacy, advancing adult literacy policy, making methods of teaching more effective and removing barriers to people with literacy difficulties.