BASIC LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT  OF ADULT LEARNERS IN IKOT ABASI   LOCAL GOVERNMENT  AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Elizabeth Odije Patrick

Mary Nandi Ala

Jame, Joy John

&

Rose Bassey Oghenekevwe

Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Faculty of Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of basic literacy skills on the educational development of adult learners in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. The study focused on three key components of basic literacy: reading skills, writing skills, and numeracy skills. A survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from adult learners in selected adult education centres. The population of the study consists of two thousand adult learners gotten from seven adult learning center in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted to select a sample of 250 respondents. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire, titled basic literacy and educational development of adult learners. Independent t-test analysis was use in testing the hypotheses, each hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance with 198 degrees of freedom. The findings revealed that reading skills, writing skills, and numeracy skills each have a significant positive influence on the educational development of adult learners. Specifically, reading skills enhanced comprehension and learning ability, writing skills improved communication and participation, while numeracy skills strengthened problem-solving and decision-making abilities. The study concluded that basic literacy skills are critical determinants of effective adult learning and educational development. It recommended that stakeholders in adult education should prioritize the development of reading, writing, and numeracy skills through improved instructional methods, provision of adequate learning resources, and increased government support.

Keywords: Basic literacy, reading skills, writing skills, numeracy skills, educational development. Download Pdf