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Abstract

About half of Indian women above the age of 15 continue to be illiterate. Inaction in promoting adult literacy is foregoing significant gains that can be made with simple interventions. This article studies the impact of an adult literacy programme (ALP) on women from the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design, we show that the benefits of this ALP go beyond the acquisition of literacy skills, to impact the personal and public lives of its participants positively. We provide evidence that the programme participants have improved self-image, increased mobility, changed attitudes towards domestic violence, better interaction with their children and are more engaged in the social and political life of the village. The programme design could provide insight into policymaking for adult education.

Keywords

female literacy functional literacy adult education mixed methods India

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Impact of an Adult Literacy Programme on the Personal and Public Lives of Women

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