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.
NKANSAH, T (2021). An Exploration Of The Role Of Adult Literacy In Community Development: A Comparative Study Of Perceptions And Experiences In Juaso And Saaman In Ghana. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/an-exploration-of-the-role-of-adult-literacy-in-community-development-a-comparative-study-of-perceptions-and-experiences-in-juaso-and-saaman-in-ghana
NKANSAH, THEOPHILUS "An Exploration Of The Role Of Adult Literacy In Community Development: A Comparative Study Of Perceptions And Experiences In Juaso And Saaman In Ghana" Afribary. Afribary, 25 Apr. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/an-exploration-of-the-role-of-adult-literacy-in-community-development-a-comparative-study-of-perceptions-and-experiences-in-juaso-and-saaman-in-ghana. Accessed 09 Nov. 2024.
NKANSAH, THEOPHILUS . "An Exploration Of The Role Of Adult Literacy In Community Development: A Comparative Study Of Perceptions And Experiences In Juaso And Saaman In Ghana". Afribary, Afribary, 25 Apr. 2021. Web. 09 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/an-exploration-of-the-role-of-adult-literacy-in-community-development-a-comparative-study-of-perceptions-and-experiences-in-juaso-and-saaman-in-ghana >.
NKANSAH, THEOPHILUS . "An Exploration Of The Role Of Adult Literacy In Community Development: A Comparative Study Of Perceptions And Experiences In Juaso And Saaman In Ghana" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 09, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/an-exploration-of-the-role-of-adult-literacy-in-community-development-a-comparative-study-of-perceptions-and-experiences-in-juaso-and-saaman-in-ghana