parent empowerment for family literacy: the pefal experience juan camilleri m.ed foundation for...
TRANSCRIPT
Parent Empowerment for Family Literacy: the PEFaL experience
Juan Camilleri M.EdFOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
QualiFLY Malta MeetingHotel Milano Due, Gzira
13 February 2006
the problem
How to reach vulnerable families that are ‘invisible’ to
the regular compulsory school and adult lifelong
learning systems ?
a viable solution
Reaching out to adults-as-parents, and empowering them to help their children, starting a cycle of selfaffirmation that would lead tosocial and economic inclusionand lifelong learning
rationale
Europe and the world increasingly more knowledge-based
Risk of widening the gap of exclusion
Broadening definition of ‘basic skills’ Empowering adults and their children to engage
in meaningful participatory group-based and intergenerational learning experiences
Literacy skills are not only empowering but also enabling (Freire)
background
The local Hilti experience through the FES and the ICPLS
Benefits for parents and children alike Documented evidence of success
overseas especially US and UK PEFaL is the first approved Socrates
programme with a Maltese institution as coordinating body
3-year project: 2001-2004 Originally 8 partners – eventually 6
selecting a family literacy model
Upskilling of parental reading skills through paired reading etc
‘Cycle of Literacy’ model, with basic skills aims for parents and children
Literacy practices in the family Family literacy as stepping stone for
parent/adult empowerment The Maltese Hilti family literacy
programme incorporates the last two concepts as ‘Bridge to Empowerment’ Model
Aims of ‘Bridging to Empowerment’ Hilti Model adapted in PEFaL
Empowering parents as:- co-educators- learners- parent leaders
So as to promote their further inclusion in society as they become lifelong learners
Helping children develop their literacy skills in a holistic and play-to-learn context
a typical session: Hilti and PEFaL
Parents and children work and grow together
Parents rehearse joint session
Children’s fun activity leading to joint literacy session
Processing
Processing
children’s session starts
parents join children
parents’ session starts
session ends
Parents and children separate
for processing and closure
communities serviced through PEFaL
Families in special needs/inclusive environment (LT)
Women forming support groups (MT, LT)
Families coming from minority groups and multicultural settings (UK, BE)
Families living in socially disadvantaged areas (MT, IT, UK, RO, LT, BE)
Families with children at severe risk of educational failure (MT, RO, BE)
Attempting to target fathers (MT, UK, LT, RO) A total of 36 parent leaders identified through PEFaL
across countries
main programme outcomes - 1 a Training-of-Tutors Programme and related
resource pack – in-built tutor-training component
two culturally differentiated basic skills training programmes for parents and children and related resource packs in line with EU transversal policies
Formative and summative assessment protocols
A concluding European Conference in July 04 A core team of parent trainers formed and
trained in six EU countries
main programme outcomes - 2
Multi-level publications A website for parent trainers’ and tutors’
participant interaction and access to the P.E.Fa.L. experience, programmes, tools and resources
Adult education and basic skills specialists and institutions gaining insights into the P.E.Fa.L. approach and methodology
P.E.Fa.L. has managed to put parent empowerment work and family literacy on the national agenda in Malta and many of the other project partner countries, especially Romania.
training of tutors – how?
Reading pack with relevant current literature on family literacy issues – various modules – compulsory and optional – leading to certification
Parents’ and Children’s Basic Skills Programme packs based on the Maltese experience but purposely adaptable for cultural diversity
Videos of typical session in various relevant languages
Establishment of website and IT-mediated technical assistance
Training seminar for coordinators and tutors integrated in September 03 meeting and National Conference
Country and site visits by coordinating institution during planning and implementation phases
Academic and technical consultancies
training of parent leaders
ICT-mediated input, discussions, mentoring and resources
an intensive evaluative and training seminar on adopting a Lifelong Learning Portfolio in the concluding conference in Malta, July 04
contact sessions with the co-ordinators of the respective participating institutions.
difficulties encountered
Language barriers Logistical difficulties IT and email communication proved
to be more complicated than originally hoped
Different level of ICT competencies and availability of computers
Consistent monitoring of programme implementation related to quality control
successful aspects
Dissemination of literature provided a sound theoretical basis
Training seminar was effective in providing real models of provision
Site visits provided on-site mentoring, technical assistance and parental feedback through focus grps
Academic consultant conducted an external evaluation and carried out optional case studies in MT and RO
Technical consultant kept records of IT communication and responded to tutors and parents’ questions and comments
numerical evidence of success
20 primary schools in local communities hosted family literacy programmes;
64 trained and experienced family literacy tutors forming core teams in six European countries;
30 family literacy programmes organised in the participating countries;
419 families participated in family literacy programmes in the six countries;
36 identified potential parent leaders from the six countries to support the core team of tutors in the dissemination of family literacy in their country.
International and national dissemination
International awareness and status through Pefal website
Family literacy provision in RO and LT after PEFaL
Sharing of expertise – UK, MT National conferences held in MT, BE, LT and RO Overall ground-breaking impact Paved the way for the QualiFLY G2 project
Il-Bniedem li ma jafx jaqra u jikteb ...
hu lsir tieghu nnifsu u ta’ l-ohrajn.
He (sic) who does not know
how to read or write…is slave to himself
and to others.
M.A. Vassalli Maltese illuminist, linguist and
writer1796