The Functional Literacy Programme in Malawi: Educating Adults for Improved Standards of Living

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Periodical article

Title:	The Functional Literacy Programme in Malawi: Educating Adults for Improved Standards of Living
Author:	Kishindo, Paul
Year:	1994
Periodical:	Journal of Social Development in Africa (ISSN 1012-1080)
Volume:	9
Issue:	1
Pages:	19-26
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Malawi Central Africa
Subjects:	adult education literacy Education and Oral Traditions education standard of living
Abstract:	The Malawi Functional Literacy Programme was initiated in 1986 in order to provide adults who were not able to acquire literacy and numeracy skills in the formal school system with the opportunity to do so in a system of nonformal education. In 1990 there were 2,185 literacy centres catering for an estimated 44,150 learners. This was far below the projected target of 7,000 centres for 175,000 learners. There are regional as well as district disparities in coverage. Enrolment also exhibits a sex imbalance: more women than men enrol. The evidence also indicates that people in the age group 15-20 years are grossly underrepresented. However, even if learners were more interested and motivated to enrol in the functional literacy programme than at present, the expansion of the programme would be limited by the shortage of instructors. If the government's desire to see the functional literacy programme contribute to improvements in the standard of living at the grassroots is to be realized, a number of changes need to be effected. Bibliogr., sum.