Analyzes data from evaluations of seven Nepalese literacy programs (five for adults and two for out-of-school children) using the same instructional materials and design. Examines dropout rates, female participation, language of instruction, skill acquisition, skill retention, changes in attitudes and knowledge, effects on elementary enrollment,…

This study is a response to the emerging needs and requirements for population management with respect to regional strategies for population education. Addresses problems of illiteracy, poverty, and other impediments to population-growth management through the further training of those involved in the education process. (MCO)

Studies showing the effect of improved self-concept on learning support the training of teachers to identify the needs of adult learners with poor self-concepts. Classroom strategies that respond to personal development needs can reduce attrition and enhance teaching satisfaction. (SK)

Occupational reading competencies that should be taught in workplace literacy programs include technical vocabulary, finding and using information, following directions, and self-regulation of reading processes. Simulations of work tasks help learners understand the importance of reading in work settings. (SK)

Ethnographic interviews with six adult basic education teachers showed that they (1) characterize students primarily in terms of psychosocial needs and (2) use implicit theories reflecting interpretation of those needs. Results demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between teacher beliefs and classroom practices. (SK)

An inmate and literacy prison educator describes how she sought to make literacy instruction more relevant to women by using the subject of AIDS to link student experiences with the acquisition of literacy skills. She emphasizes that the process is applicable to women in the larger community who are dealing with multiple social problems. (SK)

"In Quest of the Quick Fix: Staff Development in the 'National Literacy Training Act'" (Quigley) argues that professional development programs must consider "literacy for what?""Foundations for Adult Learning and Development Policy" (Craig) evaluates a policy document of the Alberta Advanced Education Ministry. (SK)

Funded by the Stewart B. McKinney Act, California's educational programs for homeless persons have the following key elements: a stable living environment, individual instruction, trained volunteers, instruction in practical tasks, materials targeted for adults, individual education plans, self-esteem building activities, and a network of local…

Adult education in Sweden encompasses study circles, folk high schools, municipal programs, job training, and educational radio and television. The noncompetitive ethos of Swedish adult education is threatened by the current economic climate and pressures resulting from the influx of refugees. (SK)

Describes and analyzes how an Urban Appalachian woman who could not read or write progressed to functional levels when instruction involved her in reading her own language. Argues that educators who failed to acknowledge her language as an integral aspect of her as a learner may have denied her previous access to literacy. (SR)

Reading, writing, and math performance was compared for groups of 125 health care paraprofessionals preparing for college (attenders; short-, medium-, and long-term stayers; and completers). Length of stay was clearly associated with literacy gain. Completers had higher scores and showed gains in more areas. (SK)

Considers the meaning of professionalization for adult-literacy education. Surveys a group of practitioners, concluding that a credential could enhance the quality of adult-literacy instruction but that providing credentials is inextricably bound up with the issue of funding. Describes initiatives underway in four states, providing examples of how…

Describes how an adult male learner who had been identified as learning disabled many years ago participated in a spelling-based word-study program. Describes the program and its theoretical rationale, discusses his progress, and notes implications for adult-literacy learners' spelling instruction. (SR)

Describes an experimental literacy class for socially and economically disadvantaged parents in the United Kingdom. Looks at the many factors affecting these adult students' participation and learning. Notes that the literacy students wanted more than functional literacy--literacy had to fulfill the need to express feelings, the need for…

A case history of a female literacy student examined how journal writing about her literacy experiences increased her metacognitive self-knowledge, reading comprehension, writing performance, and self-esteem. With one-to-one tutorial guidance, she learned to assess her literacy learning from her own perspective. (SK)