Adult education programme by the government in Kabarole and Bunyangabu improves mothers’ livelihoods

Mothers in Kabarole and Bunyangabu districts are beaming with happiness and satisfaction following their improved livelihoods as a result of government’s adult education program, dubbed Functional Adult Literacy (FAL), Kabarole District community development officer, David Musisa acknowledges.

The program was launched by the government through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in 1992 in a bid to raise the socio-economic status of the people.

Gorret Nisiima, 49, a resident of Mugusu Sub-county, Kabarole District , who dropped out of school after completing Primary Seven, is married with six children.

Nisiima says she was forced to get married at the age of 19 with little education background and with no skill, forcing her to depend on her husband for a livelihood. “I was married off when I was with no skill to earn a living for myself and I used to depend on my husband who was also a peasant depending on agriculture,” Nisiima said. She added: “We could sell our products and later he could give me little money like Shs20,000 to buy clothes and also pay school fees for children.”

Nisiima said with the introduction of adult literacy in Kabarole District, she was mobilised with the help of a community development officer to join a group in order to get knowledge and skills to earn a living, which she said has transformed her life. “I learnt how to make sweaters, and trousers with other members of the community. Now I make school sweaters and trousers.

I earn at least Shs20,000 every day,” Nisiima explained.

Functional Adult literacy (FAL) is aimed at imparting reading, writing, and numeracy skills to adults. From financial year 2009/10 up to 2016/17, the central government funded the functional adult literacy programme with Shs148 million.

There are 3,780 learners, with 926 being male and 2,854 female. The learners have been trained in agriculture, hands-on skills such as hand craft, animal rearing and literacy to improve their welfare. To date 3,463 learners have graduated; 1,729 of them being female.