This time it'll be a street stopper

Far North REAP community education team members Ana Vivian (left) and Simone Edwards were busy last week putting the final touches to plans for Adult Learners' Week.

Far North REAP has long been celebrating Adult Learners' Week - as do others in 40 countries around the world - but this year's event will be on a much grander scale than in the past.

It will take the form of a street festival on Thursday next week on September 8, or the following day if the weather turns foul, with Kaitaia's main street to be closed from Bank to Melba streets to make room for more than 20 learning providers.

Community education team member Sonny Harrison will have a couch and coffee to attract passersby who would like to talk about what they might like to learn, while the road safety team will be contributing a driving simulator.

Sonny will also be responsible for organising a couple of ukulele groups from Kaitaia and Panguru, and the kuia and kaumatua groups that meets weekly in Kaitaia will perform waiata and action songs.

It is all designed to be interactive, rather than providers simply handing out material.

"We want the main street businesses to be part of it too, and we'll even be giving away prizes," Simone Edwards said.

It's all aimed at encouraging education, "however that might look," with the theme 'To be a learning nation'.

The official purpose of Adult Learners' Week was top celebrate the efforts, achievements and contributions of adult learners, educators and providers; to strengthen adult and community education and raise public awareness of the rich variety of learning opportunities available for adults; to widen access to learning opportunities and encourage more people to seek advice and guidance about returning to learn and to foster collaborative and co-operative networks and pathways among those who share an interest in adult learning.