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Impact of an Adult Literacy Programme on the Personal and Public Lives of Women

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  • Nishant Chadha
  • Soma Wadhwa

Abstract

About half of Indian women above the age of 15 continue to be illiterate. Inaction in promoting adult literacy is foregoing significant gains that can be made with simple interventions. This article studies the impact of an adult literacy programme (ALP) on women from the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design, we show that the benefits of this ALP go beyond the acquisition of literacy skills, to impact the personal and public lives of its participants positively. We provide evidence that the programme participants have improved self-image, increased mobility, changed attitudes towards domestic violence, better interaction with their children and are more engaged in the social and political life of the village. The programme design could provide insight into policymaking for adult education.

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  • Nishant Chadha & Soma Wadhwa, 2018. "Impact of an Adult Literacy Programme on the Personal and Public Lives of Women," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 13(1), pages 82-111, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:soudev:v:13:y:2018:i:1:p:82-111
    DOI: 10.1177/0973174118764930
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deshpande, Ashwini & Desrochers, Alain & Ksoll, Christopher & Shonchoy, Abu S., 2017. "The Impact of a Computer-based Adult Literacy Program on Literacy and Numeracy: Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 451-473.
    2. Tahir Andrabi & Jishnu Das & Asim Ijaz Khwaja, 2012. "What Did You Do All Day?: Maternal Education and Child Outcomes," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 47(4), pages 873-912.
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    5. Kandpal, Eeshani & Baylis, Kathy & Arends-Kuenning, Mary P., 2012. "Empowering Women through Education and Influence: An Evaluation of the Indian Mahila Samakhya Program," IZA Discussion Papers 6347, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Anthony Okech & Roy A. Carr-Hill & Anne R. Katahoire & Teresa Kakooza & Alice N. Ndidde & John Oxenham, 2001. "Adult Literacy Programs in Uganda," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13856.
    7. Rukmini Banerji & James Berry & Marc Shotland, 2017. "The Impact of Maternal Literacy and Participation Programs: Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation in India," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 303-337, October.
    8. Blunch, Niels-Hugo, 2013. "Staying Alive: Adult Literacy Programs and Child Mortality in Rural Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 114-126.
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    Cited by:

    1. Itbar Khan & Zafar Iqbal Choudhry & Asghar Ali, 2018. "Impact of Adult Literacy Centers on Women Social Lives in District Malakand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A Case Study of NCHD Adult Literacy Program," Global Social Sciences Review, Humanity Only, vol. 3(3), pages 130-141, September.

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