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Literacy for Parents: Combo Training (Bulgaria)
There have been a number of educational initiatives in recent years in Bulgaria designed to improve the literacy skills of adults who need to re-enter or improve their position in the labour market, or for adults who did not complete their compulsory education. For example, the “New Chance for Success” Programme developed an overall model for adult literacy education including training methodology (training schemes, curricula, learning packages), training process, tests and certification. Training was conducted in courses for literacy provision and in master courses envisaged for pre-secondary level grades of basic education. By September 2014 over 16, 000 people had participated in training for completion of primary level and grades from the secondary level. Several problems have been identified in the implementation of the programme – first of all it was implemented via the schools network, by the teachers in schools. It means mainly pedagogues without experience in adult education and no specific experience in direct work with illiterates and Roma people. Another problem is the period of implementation – usually a long process that it is a problem for employed people. The high cost of long-term courses to participants is regarded as the main barrier to participation in lifelong learning in Bulgaria. In general, adult rates of participation in formal and informal learning are very low (2% in 2014 according to Eurostat’s Labour Force Survey). Literacy courses are minor part of the general offers.
HISTORY The initial idea was to organise a training course for uneducated mothers (aunts or grandmothers who caregivers of children who are in primary school) on very basic topics such as writing and reading, basic math skills, usage of words and tenses) as a first step toward a long-term literacy course. The idea was to motivate and encourage illiterates to initiate their learning. The pilot training was organized entirely using non formal methods of teaching, without any homework or typical classroom activities. The pilot training was implemented in the School “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” located in the Roma neighbourhood in the city of Lovech. Previous activities with the school on the topic social and educational integration of Roma people have been implemented and the established partnership was a precondition to reach the target group. On a later stage it was agreed to include topics on communication and more activities involving the children.
INNOVATION As in Bulgaria the non-formal literacy courses are scarce, the training activity offered by Knowledge Association is a new training offer. The approach we use is to involve mothers and kids in a literacy course together as a motivational and engaging strategy. The offered activities were also quite new for the group – teaching math via cooking, motoric skills for writing through preparation of Christmas cards, etc. The advantages are:
TARGET GROUP The target group is: Roma parents (especially mothers), with kids in primary school. Usually they have never attended school therefor they don’t have abilities to learn, most of them are complete illiterates. Unemployed, most of them have never worked, they are socially isolated as they stay at home and take care for their kids/grand kids (mainly mother of more than 3 kids) Although they live together with the fathers of their kids in most of the cases they are not officially married. Average age of the participants is between 18 and 50.
CONTACTING & MOTIVATING A meeting with the teachers from the 1st to 4th grades have been held and the illiterate parents have been identified. Personal meetings have been held to present the educational activity, where and when it will take place. Additional motivational efforts have been made – explaining the activities in details, link to the education of their kids, stress on the fact that the kids should be also present. Another motivational reason to attending – the training was developed for them, in a convenient time and setting. The lessons took part in the afternoon (after the children finished school). After all 10 people have been selected.
THE LEARNING & TEACHING 40 hours – 10 sessions /four hours each. The teaching methods were designed in order to motivate and engage the learners who are illiterates and have difficulties in expressing in Bulgarian. Therefor a lot of exercises consist of simple and enjoyable activities. The presence of kids supposes including gamified actions and artistic components. Some of the used methods:
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