Causes of the Low Completion Rate of Literacy Courses in the Department of Aboisso, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Africa is the continent with the highest rate of illiteracy. To meet this challenge, African states, including Côte d'Ivoire, are promoting literacy through campaigns. In response to these campaigns, adults are massively enrolling in literacy centers to learn to read, write and calculate. Paradoxically, many of those enrolled drop out of the centers within three to six months of enrollment. This study was therefore initiated to understand the low retention rate of literacy course participants in Côte d'Ivoire, in the department of Aboisso. It enabled us to interview 62 deserters (21 men and 41 women) and 23 literacy teachers (19 women and 4 men). The results identified as the first cause, the non-achievement or the feeling of not being able to reach the expectations at the time of registration, i.e., knowing how to read and write, for the majority, and knowing how to calculate and speak for the others. In addition to this cause, the learning conditions are not adapted to the adult public, forced for example to sit on desks designed for children. Finally, the last cause of dropout was found to be the lack or inadequacy of teaching-learning strategies specific to the adult audience. Thus, we recommended that all literacy teachers be extensively trained in the application of andragogy principles, so that the adult who commits to learning to read and write regains his or her dignity and the pleasure of learning without frustration!

Keywords: literacy, retention rates, expectations, conditions, learning strategies.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-29-03

Publication date:October 31^st 2022