What difference does adult basic education make? An analysis of self reported differences between a group of adults who have participated in adult basic education programmes and a group who have not.

Abstract

In this study a group of adults who have participated in ABE programmes as learners for two to three years is compared with a group matched for employment position and scores on literacy screening tests who have had no involvement with ABE programmes. The study inquires into peoples' work situation, including their perceptions of future prospects at their place of employment, and the degree and nature of their job satisfaction, peoples' community involvement, including awareness of current issues, the extent to which they feel they can influence what happens to them, and the extent of their engagement with community issues, and peoples' personal situations, including how they use the reading and writing skills they have developed, their involvement with their children's schooling, the sources of information they rely on, their money management, their record keeping and their degree of confidence in using technical means of communication. The study also investigates people's attitudes towards adult basic education classes, and for those who have participated in them, their own perception of changes effected, gains and sacrifices made, and whether the effort has been, for them personally, worthwhile. Differences and similarities between the groups in the areas of their work situation, their educational experience and attitudes towards education and in literacy-related practices are analysed statistically and discussed. All comparisons between the groups are explored and discussed in the contexts of the learners' own lives and experiences as described by them.