THE ROLE OF FUNCTIONAL ADULT LITERACY IN EMPOWERING WOMEN IN MALAWI: THE CASE OF WOMEN IN MACHINGA DISTRICT

Abstract

Illiteracy is a big hindrance to socio- economic development worldwide. Malawi is among sub-Saharan African countries that have high illiteracy levels among both men and women. As such, the government introduced the Functional Adult Literacy Programme (FALP) in 1986 to combat this problem. Furthermore, the programme has an empowerment component to it. This study therefore investigated the role of FALP in empowering women in Machinga district. An exploratory qualitative design was employed to get insights, views and opinions from individuals who participated in the programme. Qualitative data was collected from adult literacy instructors, Community Development Assistant (CDA) and functional adult literacy village committee chairperson using key informant interview guide. As program beneficiaries, forty-twowomen participated in the study as individual in-depth interviewees and focus group discussants. Findings of the study revealed that apart from learning how to read and write, women acquire knowledge and skills in such areas as communication, business management, modern agriculture, health and hygiene and tailoring which they use in their daily lives. The findings further showed that FALP empowers women socially. This enables women to participate in community activities. However, the findings have also revealed that although some women engage in businesses, which economically empowers them, they do not have total control over their income. In addition, others fail to fully participate in local politics due to societal attitude impediments. It is important therefore that functional literacy as a development intervention that empowers women should include a strategy that engages men and the community at large to develop transformative gender roles.