Research on nonformal education for preliterate adults

Final PES covers the period 9/79-3/81 and is based on a review of participants" weekly logs and on a seminar for A.I.D. Bureau personnel. SAM, as implemented by World Education, Inc. (WEI) in Kenya and the Philipines, has successfully demonstrated that literacy can be a result rather than a pre-condition for productive non-formal education and that rural women can organize to reach self-set development goals. Moreover, the project has yielded immediate economic and psychological returns to participants. A.I.D. is planning to fund WEI"s implementation of SAM activities in eight additional countries. Specifically, in the six targeted villages in each country, WEI assisted groups of village women (up to 90% of whom were illiterate) to define learning needs relevant to their individual goals (e.g., higher levels of income, health, and literacy); organized regular learning sessions in coordination with local public and private institutions; and evaluated both individual and group progress for 2 years. In Kenya, where per capita income is $250, SAM activities enabled rural women to earn an average of $3.00 each month by working 1-2 days. Although data are not yet available, it is expected that results in the Phillipines are even better. The resulting non-monetary outcomes included improved sanitation and eating habits, greater availability of goods and services, and stronger ties with agents of change. WEI"s detailed, 4-volume final report of 5/31/81, available from A.I.D."s Office of Development Information and Utilization, provides: (1) information on the impact of SAM; (2) a research methodology and instruments for determining learning gains; (3) guidelines for implementing each phase of SAM; (4) analysis of organizational and administrative patterns necessary for conducting SAM activities; (5) a system to localize program responsibility at the village level; (6) information on the cost and effectiveness of SAM; and (7) project documents for dissemination to potential users of and donors contributing to SAM activities.