{"id":624134,"date":"2024-06-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/blackboards\/adult-literacy-programs-aim-to-equip-workforce-with-the-tools-for-success\/"},"modified":"2024-06-24T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T00:00:00","slug":"adult-literacy-programs-aim-to-equip-workforce-with-the-tools-for-success","status":"publish","type":"blackboard","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/blackboards\/adult-literacy-programs-aim-to-equip-workforce-with-the-tools-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Adult literacy programs aim to equip workforce with the tools for success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a large population is a bit of a double-edged sword:<\/strong> While blessed with an enviably large workforce and consumer base, it is also important that economic growth is experienced by everyone. With a digitization and automation revolution said to soon transform the skills needed by the workforce, one question is becoming increasingly urgent: how do we prepare our population to succeed in a changing Egyptian economy.<\/p>\n

The solution? Adult education programs. <\/strong>The task of adult learning \u201cis to provide \u2014 in a flexible way \u2014 equitable acquisition of relevant knowledge, competencies and skills throughout the life course,\u201d according to a 2022 UNESCO report (pdf)<\/a> on adult education. Encouraging this kind of skill flexibility is particularly important as economic changes can displace existing workforces, the report notes.<\/p>\n

Not just your plain old reading, writing, and arithmetic: <\/strong>While literacy is among the most important skills targeted by adult education programs, the term has come to mean much more than just the ability to read. Literacy now includes within its ambit numeracy, digital literacy, financial literacy, and the development of critical thinking skills. <\/p>\n

Remember, Egypt lags behind in literacy: <\/strong>Government sources that spoke to Enterprise estimate that between 20% and 22% of Egypt\u2019s adult population is illiterate, while international organizations like the World Bank<\/a> and UNESCO<\/a> place the proportion slightly higher at around 25-28%. This leaves us above the world average illiteracy rate of 17% and with a lower literacy rate than all but five<\/a> of the twenty other Arab countries that report literacy data, according to the World Bank.<\/p>\n

Enter the Adult Education Authority: <\/strong>Established in 1991 under the umbrella of the Education Ministry, the authority\u2019s raison d\u2019etre is all in its name \u2014 advancing adult education and particularly, adult literacy. Led by Eid Abdel Wahed, the authority works in all of Egypt\u2019s governorates to offer literacy classes tailored to the needs and preferences of students, alongside specialized teacher training and literacy assessments.<\/p>\n

Targeting near-zero illiteracy by 2030:<\/strong> Abdel Wahed\u2019s vision for the authority is to virtually eliminate illiteracy by 2030, which according to UNESCO\u2019s standards means reaching an illiteracy rate of between 7-10%. The authority is particularly focused on targeting individuals of working age and developing curricula that integrate the concept of entrepreneurship. The hope is that this will show how literacy can contribute to opening up economic possibilities and generating higher incomes, Abdel Wahed told Enterprise.<\/p>\n

Digital literacy is also a focus area: <\/strong>Efforts are also underway to incorporate digital literacy into curricula given the proliferation of digital applications in the service and banking sector.<\/p>\n

Quality over quantity: <\/strong>According to Abdel Wahed, previous literacy drives disproportionately focused on the quantity of learners reached rather than the content of the education provided and its alignment with labor market needs. Old curricula also did not include important concepts like green sustainability, citizenship, rumor resistance, and digital literacy. The authority aims to integrate these concepts, alongside its focus on entrepreneurship, in new, higher quality curricula.<\/p>\n

This also means designing new job-specific curricula<\/strong> that are tailored to different job functions, ensuring that content is beneficial for the individual\u2019s work. Testing mechanisms for obtaining literacy certificates are also being adjusted, incorporating job specific vocabulary and technical skills. <\/p>\n

One challenge is ensuring participation:<\/strong> Adult literacy programs have faced some resistance on the part of participants and their families, and dropout rates continue to be a concern, according to a 2022 report (pdf)<\/a> on challenges facing adult literacy provision. The authority has sought to remedy this by providing transportation options to and from classes and offering separate classes for female learners.<\/p>\n

Funding also remains a challenge,<\/strong> said Abdel Wahed, noting that efforts are currently underway to find local and international partners interested in financing the authority\u2019s initiatives. Involving the private sector is also crucial for finding out-of-the-box solutions for sustaining and expanding existing programs, linking programs with the latest digital and security advancements, and improving public awareness and community education on important issues, Abdel Wahed said. <\/p>\n

The authority has piloted some specialized literacy programs already: <\/strong>The authority has worked with external partners on a number of specialized projects, ranging<\/a> from an initiative with the Agriculture Ministry providing agro-focused literacy classes to a project carried out in tandem with the National Bank of Egypt aiming to simultaneously build functional and financial literacy. UNESCO\u2019s partnership with the authority has yielded a two-year literacy program<\/a> that aims to benefit 500 women in Giza, Aswan, and Damietta governorates as well as a teacher-training initiative and a program that will add adult education services to existing associations and clubs.<\/p>\n

Room for the private sector to step in:<\/strong> There remains ample progress to be made on the literacy front, and the private sector has strong incentive to throw its weight behind the project. As financial institutions increasingly target unbanked segments of Egypt\u2019s society, it\u2019s not just financial literacy<\/a> that counts. Increasing functional literacy will not only help develop individuals\u2019 skills and capabilities, but will help them access financial resources that can transform their lives. Instilling an entrepreneurial spirit through literacy programs may be just what the Egyptian economy 2.0 needs.<\/p>\n

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