Council agrees to help adult reading scheme

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 7

Council agrees to help adult reading scheme

By

KAY FORRESTER

Christchurch City councillors have backed the Adult Reading Assistance Programme, recommending underwriting the wages of the clerk for the scheme for four months until Government funding is explored. The co-ordinator for the programme, Miss Sue Peterson, told members of the cultural and community services committee that funds for the clerk were available until the end of June. The co-ordinator’s salary was secured for the rest of the year. The programme, which matches reading tutors to adult learners, was begun under the aegis of the

W.E.A. in 1978. At present it has 210 pairs of tutors and learners supported by the full-time clerk and parttime co-ordinator. There was a demand for more places, Miss Peterson said. The programme has previously received funds from the Christchurch Polytechnic, the Community Organisation Grants Scheme, W.E.A., and the Department of Education, amongst others. A proposal for a trial literacy scheme for Access trainees was refused funding by the C.R.E.A.C. Council, although it later offered $50,000 for a three months trial, which the co-ordinator believed was unrealistic.

The city librarian, Mrs Dorothea Brown sought the support of the committee for short-term funding for the programme and backing to find more secure funds. The committee recommended another approach to C.R.E.A.C. because of the number of Access trainees using the programme and a request to the polytechnic to extend the co-ordinator's position to a full-time one. CLEAN AIR A council sub-commit-tee will report on the implications of the report of Dr John de Lisle, the man appointed by the Minister of Health to hear objections to the council’s application to extend its clean air zone.