Directions

Adult Literacy Tutor Workshop
U.T. Karavaki
Early in 1991, the Department of Youth and Sport in the Ministry of
Education, Fiji, conducted a workshop for people in education interested in
establishing adult literacy programs. The following is part of a report about
that workshop.
1 Workshop participants were mainly teachers. In fact there were
two retired Education Officers, teaching staff members from the
Lautoka Teachers' College, some District and Divisional Education
Officers, some head teachers and assistant teachers, one Talatala
(Reverend or Minister of the Methodist Church) and two Youth
workers.
2 The aim that the content of the workshop will be implemented by
participants, is based on the expectations of the co-ordinators that
the literacy program can be part of the school based approach used
in our Adult and Community Education.
The two pronged approach is directed at the two main areas (school
and communtiy) of our involvement in Adult and Community
Education.
3 Out of the thirty or so participants, only six have sent in reports of
their literacy programs. Eleven other participants are also quite
active but have yet to send in reports of their literacy activities.
In all the reports received so far, we found that programmes are organised
as workshops. Participants in these workshops are encouraged to state
clearly the problems they face before giving possible solutions and their
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contribution as well as assistance to be requested from outside sources.
Survey formats used to identify need areas in Tagaqe, where workshop
participants in Nacocolevu did their practical work were in fact designed by
them. The forms were then tested and finalised for use in the community.
The Workshop was facilitated by U.T. Karavaki and the Director of the
Department of Youth and Sport, P. Cavu. Both participants and facilitators
learnt from each other in true participatory style.
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