Factors Influencing Women Learner-Participation In Adult Functional Literacy Programme Run By NFED In Accra

Abstract

The promotion of Adult Functional Literacy programmes per se, neither creates the necessary motivation for learning, nor enhances the partici~ation of adult learners in the programme. The task is to create the enabling environment for harnessing and enhancing learner-related factors that influence the learners' participation. The Agency' 5 deli very of programmes is necessary, however the learnerfactors are equally important, and so should not be neglected in the process of Adult Functional Literacy. The research set out to investigate the factors, which enhance women learners' participation in the ongoing Mass Literacy and Social Change Programme (MASSLIP) of the NonFormal Education Division (NFED) in Nima-Maamobi, Accra. The Study used survey method to collect data from one hundred and sixteen learners from six adult functional literacy classes in the Nima-Maamobi area of the East Ayawaso sub-district of Accra. Below are findings of the study. 1. Effective communication of literacy programme goal and objectives to learners improved theirperception of functional literacy benefits hence their participation. 2. Community-based and personalized literacy programme sustained the programme and the interest of both the learner and the Agency. 3. The less useful learners in the programmes found studies the greater their pre-disposition to abandon the programme all together. 4. Factors that influenced women learners of adult functional literacy programmes were mainly internal and external. And the third factor was interaction between the two. The most influential of the factors was more biased toward the internal factors. It is recommended that functional literacy be made more learner friendly, utilizing such internal factors as to enhance their participation.