BASIC FACT SHEET ON:
TRAINING THE TRAINERS FOR ADULT LITERACY WORKERS.

YEAR	NUMBER OF TRAINED/RETRAINED LITERACY WORKERS
2004 - 2005	30 Literacy workers trained for 20 communities. Note: In the Adult Literacy Programme, 2 workers were trained in some communities – i.e., 2 literacy workers, in one community. This is because such community is vast and one teacher cannot cover the classes in such communities, hence the second class.
2005 - 2006	35 Literacy workers trained and re-trained for 25 communities.
2006 - 2007	25 Literacy workers trained for 20 communities. About 2000 adult women are participating in  DEC assisted literacy classes in the above mentioned communities between 2004 to date.

THE EFFECTS OF THESE PROGRAMMES:

As a result of the literacy activities, the beneficiaries have acquired basic education and can now read and write simple English Language, read and narrate Bible in our native language (Igbo) and also speak boldly in public without intimidation.

Both the literacy workers and the learners now have self-esteem as a result of attending classes in their communities.  Some expressed their appreciation on how they can now transact business with traders from other parts of the States because they now speak pigeon English and feel bold when negotiating with their customers since some of the participants are petty traders.

Most of these learners are now respected both by their husbands and men in their community, due to their changed status, as knowledgeable persons.  In their various village meetings, they are now given positions as Secretaries and Public Relations Officers.  Most importantly, some of them who had no opportunity of entering high schools like Junior Secondary Education can now do so through the Universal Basic Education process in Nigeria.

FUTURE PLAN IN THE LITERACY PROGRAMME FOR ADULT:

To extend the programme to other new communities in the remote areas where DEC is working.  To ensure that beneficiaries who passed the First School Leaving Examinations is registered in Junior Secondary School Entrance, using Universal Basic Education Strategy. 

 

Ifeoma Okechukwu
Programme Officer
DEC' Social Services