ABSTRACT
This work was meant to asses the use of adult literacy as a strategy for the development of in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Four adult education centres were used for the study. The population used for the study is the programme coordinator, teachers, participants, non-participants of the programme and the sample is two hundred respondents. The ages range between 20 and 70. Questionnaires were the instrument used for data collection. The data collected were and used with the use of frequency and percentage tables, and descriptive methods. The findings of the study revealed that participants were between the ages of 20 and 70 years and their occupations included farming, trading and artisans. The education centres were grossly inadequate. The attitude of some adults towards the programme is not encouraging. The materials supplied by the government were inadequate and untimely. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that the local government to solve the problems of mobility and distance to the participants. The organizers should embark on effective method of publicity of the programme through the use of media and public lectures on the usefulness of literacy. The government should supply adequate fund and materials regularly for the participants.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of The Study
1.1 Although Nigeria began its campaign against illiteracy during the colonial era, It was not until independence that literacy programmes gained increased momentum. In the 1950s, regional government launched a free primary education, programme to enable adult have access to primary education, and in 1976 the central government introduced a compulsory, free universal primary education (U.P.E) Scheme. The UPE programme ushered in an era of expanded growth for primary school and education as a whole. Many teachers were trained through distance learning by the national teacher Institute (N.T.I) In 1982 the government of Sheu Shagari launched a ten year adult literacy campaign which included the establishment of state agencies whose main objective was to combat illiteracy in Nigeria. In 1996, the UNDP began to assist the literacy programmes with equipment, technical and financial resources. This enables the government to transfer the U.P.E into the universal basic education scheme (U.B.E 1999). Unlike the U.P.E, which endeavored to promote access to primary education, the U.B.E sought to promote access to education for all, including adults, out of school, youths, children and people living in special circumstances, such as nomads. During the period 1995-2004, these programmes raised the national literacy rate to 84% 69% for youth and adult respectively. Other efforts are currently underway to use the media, especially the radio to reach the countries 60 million and the more illiterates.
The majority of the adults are farmers some are artism while others are petty traders. A close observation has show that since the introduction of mass literacy programmes in the country in 1982 by the federal government, the programme has not been fully felt by the adults in the local government area.
With far reaching experiences, it has been discovered that the implementation of adult literacy programmes is faced with a great number of problems and this is focus of this study.
Ovedeji (1980) describes literacy as the skill of reading and writing and computing. He pointed out several advantages of literacy. Literacy helps individuals to understand their civil rights and responsibilities, it helps individuals to take part meaningfully in the democratic process of their nation and contribute immensely to productiveness at individual state and national levels.
On the background of its organization owes its success to the organizational strategies engaged by the organizers.
Adult literacy is increasingly being seen as a response to the educational needs of men and women it covers a whole range of part time educational provision for persons whose social and economic responsibilities give them adult status. Adult literacy with in which literacy education is centered is of immense importance.
It is said that health is wealth, without good health nothing can be done successfully and ill health can affect the general community. The well being and growth of the community can be maintained if the members are to a large extent literate.
It is also noteworthy that literacy helps people to be enlightened in the community with this such individual will be able to think mature and progressive decisions on issues concerning his life and those of others apart from this, the people who are handling affairs of this country are the adults and they take part in decision making process. Thus their education is a paramount importance as as not to allow the ship of the nation to capsize.
The world is dynamic; changing every day for adults to be able to change with it, there is need for literacy programmes which are very important at community level up to national level.
As a young and newly created local government, the Owan West needs all the resources it can harness to develop among which are human resources.
This people need to be literate before they can partake meaningfully in the development programmes of the local government. It could therefore be said or concluded that the people of Owan West local government area need to become literate so as to be able to develop themselves, the local government, the state and Nigeria in general
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
Education, which is the backbone of developed nation in instrumental in the development of the developing nations like Nigeria. The level of adult literacy has been the major concern of the government as well as private individual since the launching of mass literacy campaign in 1982 by the federal government.
The status of adult as at now in the educational system is very much more viewed with apathy by adults as by government agents.
Politicians see it as an important instrument for development but the patriotic support for this programme dwindles the moment they get to the office.
These problems range from inadequate finance, lack of enthusiasm on the part of the learners and instructors, inadequate infrastructure and materials and ignorance on the part of the clientele. It therefore with these problems in mind that this study is carried out.
In the view of the above, the study looks at the problems involved in the organization of adult’s literacy programme in Owan West local government area of Edo state was has contributed to its present status.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The general purpose of this study is to find out how adult literacy can be utilized as a strategy for the development of rural communities. The specific objectives are as follows:
• To investigate the characteristics of the adult literacy program participants in Owan West Local Government Area.
• To identify the contributions of adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities in Owan West Local Government Area.
• To determine the strategies adult literacy can utilize a strategy for the development of rural communities.
• To identify the challenges that inhibit adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities in Owan West Local Government Area.
• To examine possible solutions to the challenges.
1.4 Research Questions
• What are the characteristics of the adult literacy participants?
• What are the contributions of adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities in Owan West Local Government?
• What are the strategies adult literacys can utilize a strategy for the development of rural communities?
• what are the challenges adult literacy faces a strategy for the development of rural communities?
• How can these challenges be ameliorated?
1.5 Hypotheses
The following hypotheses stated in null form were tested at .05 level of significance by the researcher.
Hypothesis 1: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of adult literacy Instructors and participants on the extent to which adult literacy adopted the identified strategies or ways a strategy for the development of rural communities.
Hypothesis 2: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of adult literacy Instructors and participants on the challenges that face adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities.
1.6 Significance Of The Study
It is generally hoped and believed that the solution put forward in the study will make great contributions to the society. It will be useful to adults who are yearning to acquire more knowledge. It will be of special benefit to the ministry of education administrators that have relevance to adult’s learners. The study may also be useful to further researches in the area of the development of informal education and continuing education systems.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study determined how we can effectively utilize adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities. The study restricted itself to Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. It covered the characteristics of adult literacy participants, the contributions of adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities, the strategies adult literacy programme can adopt to achieve sustainable development, the challenges that inhibit adult literacy program as a strategy for the development of rural communities in Owan West Local Government Area and how these challenges can be ameliorated.
1.8 Definition Of Terms
Adult literacy: can be defined as any education given to adult person’s men and women. Adult literacy is sometimes defined as the education provided for all men and women who are aged 21 and above. This is a biological definition based in the assumption that adult is one who is aged 21 and above.
Literacy: can be defined as the ability to read, write and speak a language as well as the ability to compute in broad terms, literacy is the ability to make and communicate meaning from and by the use of a variety of socially contextual symbols. According to (Cunningham, 2010) and Harste, 1994). Literacy has for instance, expanded to include literacy information and communication technologies and critical literacy.
Non formal adult literacy: can be defined as the training and instruction which takes place outside the formal education system or within the four walls of institutions adult and non formal education may be aimed also at young people who legally have not attained adult status, but for whom there is no further provision within the school system. Adult literacy education: adult literacy is thus sometime using the programmes as the basis for an operational definition. For example, adult literacy been defined as adult literacy education. The weakness of this definition is that it excludes the body of knowledge accumulated in per literate and non literate societies. Yet it is known that such societies provided some knowledge and skills averting most facts of human endeavour religion, polities, work, and play. Language health and morals.
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 49 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
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