An Exploration Of The Role Of Adult Literacy In Community Development: A Comparative Study Of Perceptions And Experiences In Juaso And Saaman In Ghana

ABSTRACT

This study explored the relationship between adult literacy and community

development in Ghana from a social practices perspective of literacy and peoplecentred

development. The study adopted an interpretive qualitative case study

methodology, using the perceptions and experiences of research participants in

two neighbouring communities. Primary data were collected using four

ethnographic methods of data collection namely: in-depth interviews, participant

observation, informal conversations, and document review. The data was then

analysed using the constant comparative method.

Consistent with the claims of the social practice theory of literacy, the study

found many social uses of literacy, as well as literacy practices among the

learners. It also identified many community-wide literacy practices. These

included commercial literacy, religious literacy, funeral literacy, and public

communications literacy.

The study established that in both communities, adult literacy, in terms of

participation in adult literacy classes, or the social uses of literacy by learners,

did not lead to community development. However, some of the general literacy

practices like reading and writing, funeral literacy, and public communications

literacy played roles in the implementation of community development.

Development committees, for instance, used reading and writing in activities like

taking minutes at committee meetings, writing letters to donors for support, and

collecting levies.

The study concluded that adult literacy, on its own, might not lead to

community development. It would need the complementary role of peoplecentred

development to achieve this.

A key finding of the study is that what counts as literacy varies even between

different groups in the same community, consistent with the claims of LSP.

Finally, rather than providing only classroom -based school literacy with the

hope achieving community development, the study advocated for training

learners on community development literacy, in the adult literacy classes as well

as during the process of community development.