ADULT LITERACY AND EDUCATION (ALE)
The ALE Division coordinates the National Adult Literacy and Education which aims at reducing illiteracy and enhancing skills development and education amongst adults for effective participation in personal, community and national development. It provides illiterate beneficiaries aged 15 years and above with basic literacy and numeracy skills and thereafter with additional functional knowledge, skills, attitudes and techniques required to promote the development of active citizenship. The main objective of the programme is to contribute to reduction of illiteracy levels in the country and provide a platform for citizens to critical thinking so as they participate meaningfully in the development of the country. There are two curricula: Chichewa and English.
Some of the highlights of the programme are:
(1) There are currently 9,633 classes, 8,000 for Chichewa and 1,633 for English coordinated by government.
(2) Plans are underway to upgrade the curriculum to standard 8 level to enable learners to sit in the Primary School Leaving Certificate examinations. Other innovative approaches like Integrated Adult Education (IAE) and Community Learning Centres (CLCs) are being tested with support from DVVI and Korea UNESCO respectively. The ultimate goal of IAE is to incorporate relevant life skills, vocational training, and entrepreneurial skills training in the regular adult education learning programme. IAE strive to improve the relevance and quality of basic education while increasing participation and enable young people and adults attain literacy skills, vocational and life skills to improve livelihoods. The approach creates a greater sense of commitment, responsibility and sustainability by enabling learners to make informed decisions about their lives. CAEFs are management committees for each learning Centre that oversee the specific and general operation of the running of each Centre.
(3) On the other hand the Community Learning Centres (CLCs) for Skills Development promotes lifelong learning through provision of technical and functional skills training to adult graduates. The initiative will assist literacy graduates to find learning meaningful as they engage into other productive work after they graduate ultimately contributing to the socio economic development of the society and country as a whole.
(4) Establishment of the Adult Literacy and Education Management Information System (ALEMIS) to contain the current enormous challenges of reporting in the programme below officers are being trained.
