An evaluation of the Literacy Programme offered by the Church: A case of selected Jehova's Witness congregations in Chongwe District of Zambia

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Date
2013-11-11
Authors
Chisenga, Cecilia
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This study was an evaluation of the literacy programme conducted by Jehovah‟s Witnesses (JWs) in the selected congregations in Chongwe district in Zambia. The aim of the study was to establish whether the literacy programme conducted by JWs was achieving its aims and objectives. It also looked at the methods and materials the facilitators used when teaching in order to meet the goals of the literacy programme. Furthermore, it has established the literacy level of the learners before they were exposed to the literacy classes.The research design used in the study was the qualitative approach. Data was collected using lesson observation, interviews, miscue test and document review techniques. The population of the study included all the graduates from the congregations visited. The purposeful and snowball sampling procedures were used to select the sites and the participants. Data was collected from four congregations and the sample of the study consisted of forty graduates of the literacy programme of JWs. The main findings of this study were that the graduates of the literacy programme conducted by JWs were able to read the bible and any other literature in Cinyanja. Lack of pens and exercise books may be a contributing factor to low writing skills among the graduates of this programme as they seemed to be doing more reading than writing. The literacy providers require training so that they are exposed to effective adult literacy teaching methods. The syllabic technique the facilitators used was found to be very effective as many learners were able to break through to literacy. Lack of furniture and designated classroom may have been a problem. However, this can be challenged as there are a lot of schools operating without furniture and some, like learners from community schools learn to read and write under a tree. (See literature review)One of the main recommendations of this study is for the Government to recognize the initiative made by church organizations like JW in the fight against illiteracy and support them even by giving them small grants or train the facilitators.
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