International Journal of Education, Training and Learning
ISSN 2577-7688
Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 26-32.
2022
DOI: 10.33094/ijetl.v6i2.671
© 2022 by the authors; licensee Online Academic Press, USA
26
© 2022 by the authors; licensee Online Academic Press, USA
Adult Learning: An Alternative Gateway to Women's Improved Participation in Children’s
Education in Lango Region, Northern Uganda
Judith Abal Akello
12*
Evelyn Lutwama-Rukundo
2
1
Department of Commerce and Business
Management, Faculty of Management
Sciences, Lira University, Uganda.
Email: judithakello@yahoo.com
2
School of Women and Gender Studies,
College of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Makerere University,
Kampala, Uganda.
Email: lutwamarukundo@gmail.com
Licensed:
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Keywords:
Children
Involvement
Practical knowledge
Transformation
Women.
Received: 19 July 2022
Revised: 25 August 2022
Accepted: 12 September 2022
Published: 29 September 2022
(* Corresponding Author)
Abstract
This research explored the contribution of Functional Adult Literacy
training (FAL) and what it did to women’s involvement in children’s
education in Apac District. The main objective of this study was to
explore whether and how women participants in Lango Region
supported their children’s education from the skills acquired from FAL
training. A study of 7 participants based on qualitative interpretive
framework intended to examine the benefits reaped by FAL-trained
women after their positive perception and support to children’s
education. Using individual in-depth and key informant interviews
based on qualitative content analysis, the study indicates that women
trained in FAL became active agents of their socio and economic
development. The study was influenced by Kabeer's socio-economic
perspective and Freire's literacy perspective, both of which emphasize the
importance of conscientisation in making marginalized non-literates
actors of socio-economic progress. Women who participated in FAL
obtained abilities that vividly improved their lives, according to the
conclusions, which were based on facts or witnessed evidence inductively
derived from the participants. Furthermore, the women gained a better
understanding of their role and influence on their children's academic
achievement, perseverance, and success as a result of the practical skills.
Therefore, this study recommends that key stakeholders like, Ministry of
Gender, Labour and Social Development, global supporters, (Non-
Governmental Organisations) NGOs as well as Civil Society
Organisations should prioritise in supporting putting into practice FAL
training.
Funding: This research is supported by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) (Grant number:
91560790).
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
1. Introduction
According to UNESCO (2015a), access to education is a hunam right during life time. The debate by the
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, Incheon Declaration as well as the Education 2030 Framework for
Action agreed that all women, girls, men and boys must acquire basic functional literacy and numeracy skill
for individual and communal development. Therefore, the forum unanimously recognised on an equal
opportunity and importance of education that, all ages and adults should be supported in literacy skills and to
continue learning through many and flexible ways as well as entry points.
Freire (1970) have as a result suggested functional literacy as the means through which the quality of a
person’s life and ability to make informed decisions about life can be improved. Uganda government
introduced functional literacy between 1983 and 1989 under the guidance of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that played a major role in spearheading, revamping and co-
financing FAL training to improve socio-economics lives of adult populance (Okech & Carr-Hill, 2001). The
FAL programme that was implemented in 8 districts in 1992 was to be implemented across the country.