Literacy a building block for success

Building up his skills: Wanaka brick and block apprentice John Keenan (20) says the Skills for Success adult literacy course helped him a lot with his apprenticeship course work and improved his confidence.

After dropping out of school at age 15 because he ‘‘didn't get on'', Mr Keenan's reading, writing and numeracy skills needed attention.

‘‘I got out into the workforce and it opened my eyes a bit and I realised this is my future that I'm throwing away so I better step up and do something about it,'' Mr Keenan said.

With a series of tests to sit as part of his apprenticeship course work, Mr Keenan was unsure whether he would be able to pass and keep working towards his career goals.

The wife of his boss told him about the Lake Wanaka Language Centre's adult literacy course last year and he immediately enrolled.

‘‘I thought I might as well give it a shot and it's turned out really good.'' Mr Keenan said he was doing a lot more reading and writing now and ‘‘taking a bit more on''. ‘‘I've definitely come out of it a lot more confident.''

After completing the course, Mr Keenan went on to pass all his tests, which he was ‘‘stoked'' about. He has already re-enrolled for the next Skills for Success course starting next week, so he can ‘‘catch up on what I've learnt and learn a bit more''. Mr Keenan said the course did not make him feel like he was at school. ‘‘It wasn't like a classroom environment at all and you could go and have a cup of tea and some biscuits . . . it was pretty casual, pretty open. ‘‘It really did help me out.'' Now, Mr Keenan is continuing to work towards completing his apprenticeship and hopes to come out at the other end with a qualification.