Article 2024

Challenges of participation in adult basic literacy: Practical implications for practitioners

Journal of Adult and Continuing Education
Journal · Vol. 30 · Issue 2 · pp. 551-571
Abstract

In Pakistan, adult literacy programs are offered to enable learners to function effectively to attain individual, family, and social sustainability, but these programs are continuously reporting low participation. This study aimed to explore the reasons behind low participation, employing a descriptive phenomenological design to examine the challenges experienced by adult learners, literacy teachers, and administrators. Forty-five participants (30 learners, 10 teachers, and 5 administrators) were selected by using a purposive sampling technique. Data were gathered through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Numerous challenges were found, including less attractive, non-relevant literacy content, inappropriate presentation methods, lack of proper mechanisms for teachers' training, and learners' evaluation. Based on the evidence, practical implications were proposed, with a particular emphasis on adult learners and literacy teachers. © The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Challenges Participation adult learners Basic literacy practical implications

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Abate, Samuel Getnet, Analysis of the Adult Education Policy Initiatives in Ethiopia: Implications for Policy Reconsideration, Education Research International, 2022, (2022)
2 Abbas, Jaffar, The impact of social media on learning behavior for sustainable education: Evidence of students from selected universities in Pakistan, Sustainability (Switzerland), 11, 6, (2019)
3 Abid, Saadia, A Basic Right Denied: The Interplay Between Various Factors Contributing to School Dropouts in Pakistan, Frontiers in Education, 6, (2021)
4 Ali, Muhammad Rashid, Teachers’ conflict-inducing attitudes and their repercussions on students’ psychological health and learning outcomes, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, 14, (2019)
5 Annual Report, (2025)
6 undefined, (2019)
7 International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Educational Research, (2020)
8 Ashraf, Muhammad Azeem, Multilingual Language Practices in Education in Pakistan: The Conflict Between Policy and Practice, SAGE Open, 11, 1, (2021)
9 International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education, (2017)
10 Bottom Up or Top Down Reading Strategies Reading Strategies Used by Efl Students Advances in Social Science Education and Humanities Research, (2021)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
4
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers