Adult Education: Policy and Performance

This is an independent study on Policy Evaluation and the role of Voluntary agencies in the implementation of the National Adult Education Programme aimed at covering 110 million illiterates within a span of fie years. Focusing on Andhra Pradesh, which has one of the lowest literacy rates in India, the study investigates the strengths and weaknesses of the Adult Education Policy differentiating it from production oriented and growth-oriented public policies, and considering it in relation to its institutional framework and from the point of view of the experience of various other countries. The study takes in its sweep such issues as categorization of learners, dropouts, potential learners, administrative structures, the implementation processes and the formats and contents of courses. Wide-ranging and data-based, this study provides good data and analytical perspectives for the newly set up National Literacy Mission. Policy planners in national education and welfare and all those involved and interested in the subject will find the work highly informative and useful.