Date of Graduation

8-2005

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Cecelia Thompson

Committee Member

Dale Thompson

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of participants regarding the Alfabetizacion/Circulo de Arendizaje literacy program in Ciudad Eten, Chiclayo, Peru.

The sample population for the study consisted of 118 female participants. These women represented participants of the Alfabetizacion literacy program in 2004 and 1994 - 2003 program graduates. The oral survey questions were related to demographic factors of the participants (i.e. age, marital status, family size, level of income and class attendance), factors affecting participants’ perceptions of the importance of education, and reasons for participation in the literacy program. Participants also answered questions regarding their needs and interests, their self esteem, and benefits of participation in the literacy program.

Results revealed that the majority of participants had more than four children, had a monthly income of $20.00 or lower, and attended classes twice per week. T-test for independent samples, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that women whose paid job was hat weaving agreed more strongly with the importance of education than women with a different paid job. In terms of reasons for participation in the Alfabetizacion/Circulo de Aprendizaje literacy program, the majority of women reported the learning of reading and writing and the desire to be an example to their families and to other women in their community as their main reasons for participating. They also reported that the literacy program has not met their needs and interests. Additionally, program graduates reported a need for a post-literacy program to help them retain the knowledge and skills learned in classroom.

In terms of self-esteem, a significant difference was found among women whose paid job was hat weaving and women whose paid job was washing clothes or market vendors. In terms of benefits of participating in the literacy program, women whose marital status was single or divorced scored higher than women whose marital status was married.

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