As They See it: Adult Literacy Facilitators’ Views on the Digitalization and Integration of Technology for Learning

Abstract

Various projects and programmes have been undertaken by different developing nations by way of research and practice in the past years, to improve the literacy rate. However, the fundamental problems and the global statistics on literacy continue to be worrisome in most African nations, inclusive of South Africa. In a bid to address the challenge of youth and adult illiteracy in this 21st Century, the adoption of Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) by adult facilitators, is a catalyst in reaching the goal of sustainable social and economic national development. Therefore, this study aims to explore the views of adult literacy facilitators on digitising and integrating information communication technology into adult literacy programmes. A qualitative method was employed by the study, with the use of semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively and conveniently selected participants across the 10 literacy centres in KwaZuluNatal province of South Africa. The collected data was thematically analysed to generate findings
for the study. Findings revealed that adult learners have been neglected in the use of ICT for learning. Conversely, literacy centres lack ICT facilities for teaching and learning activities. This consequently impacts the learning abilities of adult learners negatively. The study, therefore, recommends that adult literacy centres should be equipped with relevant ICT gadgets to enhance adult literacy programmes. Also, a system approach where every individual and all adult literacy education stakeholders should be involved in the implementation process should be embraced.