6343 NALAW flyer 06 05/09/2006 09:49 Page 1

Political participation and literacy

National Adult Literacy Awareness Week
25 – 29 September 2006

National Adult Literacy Awareness Week 2006 will include:

Launch of 'The A to Z guide to the European Union'- Monday (25/9)
The launch of literacy student voter registration campaign - Tuesday (26/9);
Launch of 'A plain English guide to political terms' - Thursday (28/9); and
A national conference on political participation and literacy at the National
College of Ireland (Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1) - Friday (29/9).

76 Lower Gardiner St.

Tel: (01) 855 4332 Email: literacy@nala.ie Web: www.nala.ie Dublin 1
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Political participation and literacy

National Adult Literacy Awareness Week 25 – 29 September 2006
National Adult Literacy Awareness Week (NALAW) has the theme of 'Political participation and literacy'
this year. This theme has been chosen in anticipation of, and preparation for, a general election in the
Spring of 2007. NALAW will focus on the political establishment from government
departments and their support agencies, politicians and political parties to individuals and
organisations which are focused on the political system. The intention is to assist them to deal
more effectively and sensitively with 500,000 (OECD 1997) members of the public who are
improving their literacy skills. This campaign will also examine how literacy issues can be a
barrier to understanding and participating in the political system in Ireland.

Elements
There will be three sub-themes to NALAW:
voter participation including voter registrations and understanding the elections / referenda
participating in political parties
- party manifestos,
- voting and canvassing,
- who the political parties are?
- how the parties are organised?
- what do they do?
- how do you join?
Understanding government - how local, national and EU government works.

The goals of the campaign

The goals of the campaign are to:
raise awareness of the issue of literacy as a barrier to political participation;
assist organisations which shape the political scene, in promoting a clear understanding of their
work to the widest range of people in society;
draw on international experience and know how; and
begin a national debate on the issue.

What will National Adult Literacy Awareness Week include?

NALAW 2005 will include:
The launch of NALAW and 'An A to Z guide to the European Union' by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dermot Ahern at the Department for Foreign Affairs - Monday (25/9)
The launch of a literacy student voter registration campaign at the Dublin City Council. This will
include a short presentation / dialogue by students on political participation on
Tuesday (26/9);
Launch of 'A plain English guide to political terms' at the Dail on Thursday (28/9); and
A national conference on Friday (29/9) on political participation and literacy at the
National College of Ireland (Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1), with the following speakers:
- Alex Markham, Resources and Training Officer, Electoral Commission (UK)
- Minister Sile de Valera TD.
- Bridie Daly literacy student

On going activity
The distribution of a range of printed support material (poster and postcard) to the political
establishment and to 900 adult education centres, libraries, Citizen Information Centres and many other
points of information.

For more information email NALA at

literacy@nala.ie or phone us on (01) 855 4332