Writing the wrongs: international benchmarks on adult literacy

This paper argues that governments are not investing in programmes sufficiently to achieve the UN goal of reducing illiteracy by 50% by 2015. The study attempts to systematise experiences of what works in adult literacy by analysing 67 successful literacy programmes in 35 countries. The paper presents the results of these common features in benchmarks or guidelines for policy-makers which highlight the critical issues that need to be considered in designing an adult literacy programme.

The benchmarks include:

• governments are responsible for co-ordinating and collaborating with ministries, CSOs and civil society in meeting the right to literacy and creating an enabling environment
• facilitators should be paid at least the equivalent of the minimum wage of a primary school teacher for all hours worked. They should be local people who receive substantial initial training and regular refresher training, as well as having ongoing opportunities for exchanges with other facilitators
• in multi-lingual contexts learners should be given an active choice about the language in which they learn at all stages
• a wide range of participatory methods should be used in the learning process
• a good quality literacy programme that respects all these benchmarks is likely to cost between US$50 and US$100 per learner per year for at least three years. Governments should dedicate at least 3% of their national education sector budgets to adult literacy programmes.