Adult Learning Programs of Perth offers educational opportunities from A to Z
- Galen Simmons
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
Free educational programming available across a wide variety of subjects and skills training
By Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Anyone who has ever considered learning a new skill, obtaining their high-school diploma, or teaching their employees better communication and collaboration should look no further than Adult Learning Programs of Perth.
Operating from the St. Marys Public Library five days a week, Adult Learning Programs of Perth is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. The organization provides free education and training for those looking to advance their digital skills, work towards their Grade 12 equivalency through the Canadian Adult Education Credit (CAEC), improve essential skills in reading, writing and math, or learn any number of other skills that advance each adult learner’s individual goals, whether that be fostering greater independence, obtaining post-secondary education, or improving their employability.
“There’s a bit of a misconception that we strictly offer digital-tech (education), which we do a lot of, and then academics – so math and English and stuff. While that is traditionally what we offer, now we have the ability to offer so much more and we also have the ability to work with employers to help with employee retention,” said Nicole Carradine, one of two adult learning coordinators who offer programming to residents in St. Marys, Stratford and across Perth County.
“We can go into a factory or a business and work on anything from tech skills to soft skills. We can also do that with smaller businesses and have them come here or have them refer employees who are maybe struggling with something come in and work with us independently, and it’s all covered so there’s no fees or anything.”
Adult Learning Programs of Perth’s mandate is to help anyone aged 18 and older achieve their learning goals, whether it’s something as simple as learning home plumbing or how to stay safe online to more ambitious goals like education or career advancement.
Carradine and adult learning instructor Stephanie Shute work to assess each person’s individual goals, determine where they fit in the organization’s five goal pathways – employment, apprenticeship, post-secondary, secondary school credit, or independence – before developing a path for education and training programs.
Some of those programs, like the employment soft skills program and the cybersecurity workshop, are offered directly by Adult Learning Programs of Perth, while others are offered free of charge through in-person and online-based partner organizations like GCF Learn Free, CAEC and the Learning Hub.
“And if they do work towards writing their CAEC exams, so they’re getting ready to have their (Grade 12 equivalency), there’s a cost to write those exams and the (St. Marys) Friends of the Library have agreed to help with the odd person who’s looking to cover the cost of the exams,” added St. Marys Public Library CEO Sarah Andrews. “They’re about $100, so it’s a lot of money for people. Through Nicole, they approach the Friends and they’ve set aside some funds for that.
“We’re trying to remove as many barriers from people as we can to help them succeed. We’ve had some really interesting scenarios come out through COVID where students who kind of got lost and were no longer attending formal education were really struggling because they were struggling to read, struggling to do homework; they weren’t even going to school. … Through this program, we’ve been able to reconnect them and accomplish some of their goals.”
Whatever someone’s goals for their life might be, both Andrews and Carradine are encouraging residents of St. Marys, Perth South and the surrounding area to consider Adult Learning Programs of Perth. For more information, visit www.townofstmarys.com/recreation-community-culture/education/adult-learning/about-adult-learning/.
Comments