An analysis of the planning and implementation of adult literacy programmes in selected community development sub-centres in Lusaka district

Abstract

The study was carried out in order to analyse the planning and implementation of adult literacy programmes in selected Community Development sub-centres in Lusaka District. The objectives that guided the study were to: examine how adult literacy programmes are planned in selected Community Development sub-centres in Lusaka District; establish how adult literacy programmes are implemented in selected Community Development sub-centres in Lusaka District; determine the factors that affect the planning and implementation of adult literacy programmes in selected Community Development sub-centres in Lusaka District; and explore strategies which could be employed to enhance the planning and implementation of adult literacy programmes in selected Community Development sub-centres in Lusaka District. This study adopted a case study design. The target population included: all adult learners; all adult literacy facilitators; all Community Development Assistants; the District Community Development Officer for Lusaka District and all the Community Development Planners in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. The study had a total population of 50 of which 40 were adult literacy learners, who were simple randomly selected while 4 facilitators, 4 Community Development Assistants, 1 Community Development Planning Officer; and 1 District Community Development Officer were all purposively selected. Four sub-centres out of 8 were selected for the study using simple random sampling procedure. A focus group discussion was used to collect data from 40 adult literacy learners. Interview guides were used to collect data from the remaining participants. The data collected was coded and analysed using themes which emanated from the responses. The findings of the study revealed that, the planning of adult literacy programmes was mainly top down. There was lack of collaboration among all stakeholders in the planning process. The experts in the Department of Community Development at the national level, together with experts from other line ministries, decided on the course content and produced manuals to be used in all the sub-centres. Staff at the lower levels, facilitators, learners and other stakeholders were not involved in the planning of these programmes. When it came to the implementation of the programmes, it was mainly left to the facilitators with little assistance from the staff in the MCDSS in charge of literacy. The findings also revealed that planning and implementation of adult literacy programmes in selected Community Development subcentres was affected by: lack of collaboration among stakeholders in the planning and implementation process; lack of qualified facilitators; lack of funding and lack of adequate teaching and learning materials. Some of the suggested strategies to improve the planning and implementation of adult literacy programmes include: coming together of all stakeholders to plan for literacy programmes and engagement of suitably qualified facilitators to handle adult literacy classes and also increased funding to the adult literacy centres in the MCDSS. Thus, from the findings it can be concluded that planning and implementation of the adult literacy vii programmes should be co-intentional on the part of all those who have a stake in the programme if the programmes are to be responsive and attractive to the learners. The study therefore recommends that the Government of Zambia through the MCDSS should formulate deliberate policies that would help improve the planning and implementation process of adult literacy programmes in the sub-centres. The Government of Zambia through the MCDSS should also improve funding towards adult literacy programmes in the MCDSS.