Role of Literacy In Sustainable Boreholes Provision – People Empowerment For Poverty Reduction

Abstract

This study examines the role functional adult literacy played in empowering people to sustain boreholes provided and for progressive reduction in poverty.  For many governments in sub-Saharan Africa the bane of development interventions is the lack of effective institutions and measures to ensure the sustainability of the vital and high level cost investments made.  More so, when the critical mass of the beneficiary population are illiterate and would need training to be able to effectively appreciate, understand, and acquire the rudimentary requisite skills to be able to participate and implement sustainability strategies. The sample size for the study was 1,200 household respondents drawn from 240 communities provided with boreholes selected by simple random sampling technique.  Primary data was collected from eight Districts through the use of quantitative and qualitative research instruments.  Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS software. Findings included a 98.3% success rate of literacy project implementation; 74.6% of respondents indicated literacy project contributing to their individual well being; 85.1% indicated literacy project facilitated the availability of trained hand pump maintenance technicians; 87.6% indicated the literacy project facilitated ownership of boreholes by communities; 73.0% indicated literacy project contributing to community borehole sustainability; and, 73.3% of respondents could relate the continual sustainability of boreholes to low level poverty in their communities. Thus, basic adult literacy for the sustainability of boreholes is considered quintessential for continual improvement in the quality of human lives and ultimately for reduction in poverty, and should be pursued.

Key words: Boreholes; Empowerment; Illiteracy; Literacy; Sustainability.

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