In the implementation of the National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP), the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) of the Ministry of Education, has adopted operational policies and guidelines that set a clear approach and strategy in implementing an efficient programme. Besides others, the following major policies will govern programme implementation.
A). Basic Literacy (Local language)
1. Literacy Cycle and Class Meetings
Number of Instructional Hours per Cycle
6 hours a week over 21 months
Achieve between 300 – 400 hours per cycle
Minimum instructional hours per cycle is 400
Minimum number of learners per class is 25 and 30 maximum
2. Criteria for Opening New Classes
Intensive community entry must be undertaken
Community must request for the class from the Zonal Supervisor/District Office
Community identifies and nominates volunteer for vetting and selection
Availability of suitable meeting place
Facilitator confirmed by NFED (Facilitator Selection Form) and given Initial Training
Formation of Community Literacy Advisory Committee
3. Criteria for Selection of Volunteer Facilitators
In recruiting facilitators, special efforts must be made to recruit women
a. New Facilitators
A volunteer, nominated to be a facilitator must;
be at least 18 years old
be a holder of the MSLC or JHS or above
be able to speak, read and write the language of the class and in English
be living within at most two kilometers from the learning centre
have a spirit of voluntarism and must agree to render service to the community
have recruited learners before Initial Training
b. Retained Facilitators
A Retained Facilitator must;
Meet criteria for qualification for incentive
have recruited new learners
be confirmed through the Facilitator Declaration Form
4. Process of Selection
A volunteer must be nominated, vetted, interviewed and selected for Initial Training
a. Nomination
A Facilitator must be nominated by one of the following:
A Faith-based organization
A local society or club e.g. Women’s group, Farmers’ Association, a Youth organization,
a development project etc.
b. Vetting
The nominee should be vetted by the NFED District Coordinator and staff
c. Interviewing and Selection
The District Office and Community Literacy Advisory Committee select facilitators that qualify
for interviewing.
d) Initial Training
Those who pass the interview given Initial Facilitator Training
Facilitators come to training with list of recruited learners
Facilitators sign the Declaration Form at the end of the training
Performance is reviewed at the end of every cycle on the basis of the Criteria (11).
5. Community Literacy Advisory Committee
a) Composition
Opinion Leaders living in the community – including the chief or his representative
Assemblyman/woman (if any)
Unit Committee member
A representative of facilitators in the community
A representative of NGOs working in the community (if any)
A representative of literacy class(es) in the community
b) Terms of Reference
The Committee members should:
Meet at least every two months (more often during the early stages of class formation)
Discuss class problems.Monitor facilitator/learner participation in programme activities, e.g. Class meetings, IGA projects
Development activities.
Take decisions on support to the class e.g. lanterns, electricity bills settlements etc.
Monitor Supervisor’s operations
Decide on strategies for facilitator motivation.
6. Arrangements for Learner Assessment
Assessment of learners is carried out at three levels; Entry, Continuous and End of Term. The Research Unit of the NFED will undertake sample Entry and Terminal Assessment for verification and documentation purposes.
a) Entry Test
Based on curriculum objectives, the entry test will be administered to all learners by facilitators before the beginning of instruction.
b) Continuous Assessment
Progress made by classes will be measured by instructional activities, class assignments and the Checklist.
c) Terminal Assessment
On completing the cycle learners will be assessed by facilitators.
7. Drop-Out
Continuous absenteeism for more than three-months
Vacancies created by such drop-outs shall not be filled with new learners
8. Completion Rate
At least 80% percent of enrolled learners should complete the 21-month cycle
9. Criteria for Certification
All learners who complete the cycle will be assessed and awarded Certificate of Participation
10. Facilitator Incentive Package
The Facilitator who completes a cycle and qualifies for incentive will be presented with award at the zonal or community level based on performance criteria.
a) Criteria for Award of Incentives
Only qualified facilitators must benefit from the package. Thus only those who satisfy the performance criteria below will receive the award;
11. Performance Criteria of a Facilitator
Facilitator attends classes for the least 300-400 hours per cycle At least 70% of learners should have spent a minimum of 300-400 hours each per cycle Facilitator delivers lesson content according to the Facilitator’s Manual and Facilitator’s Guide At least 70% of completing learners can read, write, compute and have acquired and demonstrated functional knowledge (Facilitator-administered simple test)
In addition to satisfying the Performance Criteria, a facilitator qualifies to receive incentive if he or she; Was sponsored by the community and given Initial and Refresher Training Facilitated the class for at least six hours a week throughout the cycle Completed the lessons in the Primers and Follow-up Readers within the 21-month cycle Led the class to undertake at least 10 development activities after going through Primer lessons Assisted learners to participate in post literacy activities including using the Supplementary Readers in the Book Boxes
12. Supervision
A Zonal Supervisor/Programme Assistant appointed to oversee the activities of literacy classes will undergo training.
a) Scope and Frequency of Supervision
A Zonal Supervisor is responsible for at least 15 classes in his/her zone A Supervisor must visit at least a class per day and stay for the whole period. A Supervisor responsible for 15 classes must visit each class twice a month If he/she has less than 15 classes, e.g. 10, then three visits must be paid to each class per month Visits per Supervisor per month; 30.
b) Responsibilities of a Zonal Supervisor
Supervisor must observe all activities of the class, make notes and check the following;
Facilitator attendance i.e. (Ref. 11 – Facilitator Performance Criteria) Learner attendance, lesson reached, session treated, use of methodology Learner participation and skills application Link up class with other development agencies
13. Supervisor Performance Criteria
Regularity of visits, Effectiveness in providing support to classes, Average time spent in each class visited. Timely distribution of logistics to class Relationship with facilitators Effectiveness of post literacy activities in the zone Regularity and timely submission of MIS Forms and monthly supervision reports
14. Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
Policy of allocating transportation, resources and working tools on the basis of needs Supervisor’s qualification and performance criteria Supervision and monitoring TOR and procedures; community participation Feedback and evaluation mechanisms Protocol for learners’ assessment; learner/facilitator assessment guidelines Framework and guidelines for research studies and follow-up action, Process for MIS data collection, analysis and compilation
15. Occupational Skills Development
a) Criteria for Selection of Groups for Technical and Financial Assistance (Training)
The following are criteria for selecting Occupational Skills Development (OSD) groups for Technical and Financial Assistance:
- Group must be a literacy class of the Non-Formal Education Division
- Group should have completed at least the contents of the Primer 1
- Group should have obtained at least 80% class attendance
- Group must be undertaking a viable income generation activity
- Group must practise micro finance or savings mobilization
Role of Regional and District Officers
- Regional and district officers must collaborate with Governmental institutions and NGOs for technical and financial support for OSD groups- Groups must be assisted to purchase machines and equipment to enhance their production Regional schedule officers must be one of the principal signatories to groups’ accounts Regional and District Officers supervising the groups (Schedule Officers) must submit comprehensive Quarterly Reports on all OSD groups’ activities to Headquarters
Training Capacity Development
NFED now operates Micro Credit and Micro Finance Systems and collaborates with NGOs and other institutions in Ghana in the area of capacity building at different levels: Headquarters, regional, district, and class (Group Leaders)
16. Radio Broadcasts
In implementing the Radio Broadcast Programme, the NFED will establish Memoranda of Understanding with the private FM radio stations collaborating with the NFLP in literacy delivery.
