The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Paul Dinn, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development:

Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a significant milestone of an organization dedicated to learning and literacy in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council has helped thousands of people improve their basic skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening and numeracy.

On May 22, the council will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Speaker, when you teach reading and writing skills, you are also helping people build their confidence, strengthen their self-esteem and accomplish everyday tasks many of us take for granted.

The council’s commitment to literacy is reflected in its initiatives for people of all ages.

Its programs help adult learners increase their literacy and essential skills, help provide additional reading, writing and numeracy activities to students from kindergarten to Grade 12, and help people with technology and financial literacy for the modern world.

Speaker, many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are better people today because of the Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council.

Congratulations to the tutors, founders, volunteers and learners whose lives have been changed by the council.

I invite all Honourable Members to join me in celebrating the Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council and wish them the best of luck in the next 40 years.

Thank you.