Publication from International Experts Meeting 2004

This publication of collected papers resulted from the International Experts Meeting held November 15-17, 2004.

EXCERPTS:

Foreword

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) believes that marrying literacy and livelihoods is an important step in tackling the poverty reduction targets of the Millennium Development Goals. This is the principle behind a new COL programme that will benefit both young people and older people alike. Literacy is understood in two ways. The first embraces the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, popularly referred to as the three Rs. The second and more recent concept of literacy stresses the competencies that enable those with minimal or no formal education to improve their chances of gainful employment.

COL believes that literacy should not be divorced from the ability to make a living, and it has achieved some notable successes in improving the status of poor people through technical and vocational skills and agricultural and health initiatives. However, the scale of need is still enormous. Learning related to livelihoods must engage a far larger population of adults and youth than can be reached through formal technical or vocational training.

Enabling people to acquire very basic generic and life skills and giving them some access to information technologies can help reduce hunger and poverty. COL's Literacy and Livelihoods programme will deploy nonformal and informal education techniques to reach illiterate adults, semiliterate youth and neo-literate populations in developing Commonwealth countries.

Thanks to a special grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), COL brought together experts in literacy and livelihoods to assist in the development of a programme strategy. The UK's Department for International Development has also provided helpful support. This publication provides a record of this consultative meeting.

Sir John Daniel
President and CEO
Commonwealth of Learning

Introduction

In the past, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has focused extensively on livelihood skills training and acquisition. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has produced huge results in the Pacific states, South Asia, the Caribbean islands and some countries in sub- Saharan Africa. COL's only notable record in literacy, which also proved to be a great success, is the COL Literacy (COLLIT) project in India and Tanzania.

Given COL's expertise in the development and use of open and distance learning (ODL), what kind of skills should be receiving COL's attention in the 21st century?

Livelihoods are to a large extent based on literacy skills. Skills in information and communication technology (ICT) have also become a necessary tool in literacy training. In addressing the challenges of literacy and livelihood skills, COL has developed a revised approach by merging literacy and livelihoods in its programme to be called Literacy and Livelihoods (L&L). To carry forward this plan, the International Literacy and Livelihoods Experts Meeting was organised from 15 to 17 November 2004 in Vancouver.

This report gives a fair view of COL's sense of direction which was endorsed by delegates at the meeting. In addition, some regional meetings will be held in the course of the coming year to help COL develop a long-term plan in L&L. Meanwhile, some initiatives are already underway with the view to adding value to existing COL activities associated with poverty reduction and general improvement in the living conditions of the poor and in the environment as they relate to both literacy and livelihoods skills.

I would like to invite you, esteemed reader, to visit the COL Web site for the full proceedings of the November experts meeting. You could also send us your comments or suggestions on how COL may develop its L&L programme as a contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Joshua C. Mallet
Education Specialist
Learning and Livelihoods

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Author bios

List of Abbreviations

Keynote Address
    Literacy and Livelihoods: Learning for Life in a Changing World
        -Sir John Daniel

Presentations:
    UNESCO's New Literacy Initiative for the Excluded (LIFE)
        - Dr. Qian Tang
    Literacy and Livelihoods for Youth at Risk-The SERVOL Experience
        - Mr. Martin Pacheco
    Culture, Literacy and Livelihoods: Reconceptualising the Reform
        of Education in Oceania
        - Dr. Bob Teasdale, Mr. Epeli Tokai and Dr. Priscilla Puamau
    Remarks for the International Literacy and Livelihoods Experts
        Meeting: Learning for Life in a Changing World
        - Mr. Arvil V. Adams

Country Papers:
    India - Dr. K. Balasubramanian
    Mozambique - Dr. Humberto Nelson F.F. Muguingue
    Samoa - Dr. Emma Kruse Vaai

Literacy Perspectives:
    Literacy & Livelihoods: Learning for Life in a Changing World
        - Ms. Madeleine Wooley
    Literacy for Sustainable Livelihoods: Perspective from Bangladesh
        - Ar. A.H.M. Rezwan
    Empowering Bangladesh: New Challenges for Literacy and
        Livelihoods Projects
        - Mr. Reza Salim
    Addressing Challenges to Literacy and Livelihoods
        - Dr. Ulrike Hanemann
    Who Would Have Thought So? The Politics of Literacy in Ghana
        - Dr. Esi Sutherland-Addy
    Major Issues Facing Literacy Development Initiatives in the
        African Region: The Experience of Nigeria
        - Professor Michael Omolewa
    Approaches to the Challenges of Literacy and Livelihoods in Africa
        - Dr. Felicity Binns