A new study on the progress of Functional Adult Literacy in the Northern Uganda has found that most adult literacy teachers are incompetent and unable to handle their classes.
The study conducted by Literacy Network Uganda indicates that 18 years after functional adult literacy was introduces by the Government, it has made few strides because of the ineptitude of the instructors.
Michael Bazira the coordinator of the Literacy Network, who presented the results of the study to educationalists in Nebbi, said some teachers were only trained for one day before being deployed to the field. He said instructors of functional adult literacy classes should all be given standardized skills training and awarded certificates to prove their ability to teach reading, writing and numeracy.
The study sampled 170 functional adult literacy teachers across the country.
It found that the teachers are ignorant on how to instruct multi-leveled adult learners. The functional adult literacy classes combine both semi-literate and non-literate students.
According to the study most teachers are poorly paid, receiving only 30,000 shillings per month. The teachers interviewed said that given their bad remuneration, they consider their work a sacrifice and service to Uganda.
