CASE No. 7 – Testimonies on DEC Adult Literacy Programme for Women

Beneficiaries:

Anthonia Okoro is a 55 year-old illiterate from Ovoko-Agu Community in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.  Before DEC Intervention in their community in 2002, Anthonia refused to join other participants to attend literacy programme.  According to her, school is only meant for small children and not old women of her age.  The literacy worker for their community Mrs. Elizabeth Ezeh had on several occasions asked her with many others to start attending the class but she refused.  She said that people will laugh at her if she stars going to school at her age.  In 2004 when Anthonia noticed that her neighbours and other older women in her area who had earlier started the class are now outspoken and enlightened, she decided to join them.  Surprisingly, she is presently one of the best participants in her class and can now write and sign her name, speak simple English language.  She can speak boldly in public gathering unlike before.  There are other similar testimonies on the impact of Adult literacy programme on the beneficiaries in some other classes like in Eha-Ndiagu, Imilike-Agu, Imilike-Etiti, Amechi Idodo, Eha-Alumona among others.  As a matter of fact sosme of the active participants have already sat for first school leaving certificate examination while others are in the process of getting to the next stage that will enable them get qualified for Registration into Junior Secondary School Education, using Universal Basic Education System.     “It is indeed something worthy of emulation if other illiterate adults can copy the idea of attending adult classes for the development of our society,  said Anthonia Okoro.