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Failing adult learners: Why Rwanda’s adult literacy education is not delivering

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  • Abbott, Pamela
  • Mugisha, Roger
  • Mtika, Peter
  • Nzabalirwa, Wenceslas

Abstract

Having a literate society has been a policy objective of the Rwandan Government for 20 years. However, in practice, it has never been a high priority, although investing in adult literacy education has the potential to contribute to socio-economic transformation. This paper reports on findings from a survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. We show that learners rarely benefit from attending literacy classes. Extreme poverty, lack of a ‘culture of reading’ and the poor delivery of literacy classes are the main barriers to student learning. Without more investment in training tutors, infrastructure and learning resources, the policy implementation gap will persist.

Suggested Citation

  • Abbott, Pamela & Mugisha, Roger & Mtika, Peter & Nzabalirwa, Wenceslas, 2020. "Failing adult learners: Why Rwanda’s adult literacy education is not delivering," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:79:y:2020:i:c:s0738059320304478
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102288
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. An Ansoms & Donatella Rostagno, 2012. "Rwanda's Vision 2020 halfway through: what the eye does not see," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(133), pages 427-450, September.
    2. Charl C. Wolhuter & Nicola Barbieri, 2017. "Is The Ideal Of Universal Adult Literacy In The World By The Year 2030 Statistically Attainable?," Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, Vita e Pensiero, Pubblicazioni dell'Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, vol. 135(1), pages 87-102.
    3. Charl C. Wolhuter & Nicola Barbieri, 2017. "Is The Ideal Of Universal Adult Literacy In The World By The Year 2030 Statistically Attainable?," Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, Vita e Pensiero, Pubblicazioni dell'Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, vol. 125(1), pages 87-102.
    4. Petra Debusscher & An Ansoms, 2013. "Gender Equality Policies in Rwanda: Public Relations or Real Transformations?," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 44(5), pages 1111-1134, September.
    5. Niels-Hugo Blunch, 2017. "Adult literacy programs in developing countries," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 374-374, July.
    6. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultura [UNESCO], 2015. "Education for All 2000-2015: Achievements and Challenges," Working Papers id:7512, eSocialSciences.
    7. Gizaw, Abiy Menkir & Rogers, Alan & Warkineh, Turuwark Zalalam, 2019. "Leaving the job half done? An analysis of mid-term withdrawals by facilitators in some adult literacy learning programmes," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 194-206.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bayley, Stephen H., 2022. "Learning for adaptation and 21st-century skills: Evidence of pupils’ flexibility in Rwandan primary schools," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

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