THE ROLE OF ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN ERADICATING ILLITERACY

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the role of adult basic education programme in eradicating illiteracy in Edo, Benin metropolis. In this study, the researcher tries to finds out the importance of the roles of adult basic education programme in eradicating illiteracy in Benin-City metropolis, Edo State as well as the state in general and Nigeria. The study focuses on subtopics such as; the meaning of Adult Basic Education Progammes, Concepts of Illiteracy; Adult Basic Education Programme as a means of Eradicating Illiteracy and Promote National Development; The Roles of Government in Providing Adult Basic Education Programmes; The Roles of Private Individuals and NGOs in Providing Adult Basic Education Programmes.. The following techniques/methodologies were adopted for the study in order to gather adequate information for the study; Research Design; Population of the Study; Sample and Sampling Techniques and so on. The research design adopted was descriptive survey research design. This helps the researcher to explain the phenomenon under study. The population of the study were targeted adult learners participating in literacy programmes within the Benin-City metropolis. The researcher visited some literacy centres within the Metropoli where a total of 500 adult learners were selected for the study. Through sample and sampling techniques, the researcher choses a sizable population of 20% of the total population which was able 100 adult learners from the literacy centres. The research instrument adopted was the questionnaire which contains about 20 items that were constructed to elicit responses from the target population. The instrument was validated using face and content validity through the supervisor and some lecturers in the department of Adult and Non-Formal Education University of Benin; and as such, making the instrument reliable. The method of data collection was the questionnaire which was administered to the respondents and yielded immediate feedback. The method of data analysis was the adoption of simple percentage. The responses were arrange in tables and carefully analysed. It was discovered that there are no enough and adequate adult basic education centres within Benin-City Metropolis which tends to limit a lot of adults from accessing basic education programmes. It was also gathered that there are alot of roles adult basic education programmes play in eradicating illiteracy as well as the roles of government in providing adult basic education programmes and so on. It was discovered also that through adult basic education programmes, many can be made literate and empowered; and as such making them active in different areas of life ranging from economic perspective, political, sociocultural, technological, and so on.