Ugandan Adult Education on Confintea messages

The Uganda literacy and Adult learners´ association(ULALA) would like to sincerely thank the International Council on Adult Education (ICAE) Secretariat and the Advocacy commission in particular for the good work done on coming up with the seven key issues to be debated and decided at the CONFINTEA VI conference to be held in Belem, Brazil Dec 2009.

The proposed issues are indeed key. However, as adult learners; we would like to take this opportunity to submit the adult learners concerns about the same; We as adult learners (of Uganda) request;

• To be empowered and allowed to participate and contribute directly to the policy process and programme design of Youth and Adult learning we should have a main role to play in literacy programmed.
• That there should be a declaration by UNESCO and other UN Agencies about the adult learners´ involvement at all levels of the programme so as to achieve key issues Number 4 and 6.

This is because when we look at the UNESCO orientations, and objectives, adult Learners are not clearly mentioned as direct beneficiaries of literacy, adult basic education and lifelong learning programmes neither their duties specified hence greatly hampering their full and active participation because they are planned for rather than involving them in the planning and there is no way they can demand for their roles if they are not clearly stipulated the governing body UNESCO. We are therefore losing recognition, ownership identity and respect for the programme as it has been hijacked by government(s) and in some cases civil society. Adult learners are therefore left participating in only coming to learn without making any decisions as it should be.

Note that: Although literacy, adult basic education and lifelong learning has been in Uganda and Africa in general since time immemorial(find out when), Ugandan adult learners have been denied their rights to fully be involved in the available learning programmes. This has in turn exposed them to exploitations. Remember that; The world all over has suffered from various sorts of crises like war, famine, poor governance and democracy crises, economic, financial health, environment and fuel crises among others.

Yet governments and UN has continued to ignore that adult learning has much to do with these problems. Besides, they have ignored the fact that today´s world is in the hands of Youth, Women and men(adults) and over 800 million of whom have no or very low literacy skills.

So; Unless adult learners are given the right position (center) and allowed to decide or represent the interests of adult learners within on issues of concern and that which affect them, the world´s problems cannot be resolved despite the countless international, regional, National and meetings and forums.

Looking forward for your positive consideration, support and action on the above issues

Yours sincerely

Masia Ruth Anne Programmer Officer (ULALA)