Literacy in Vanuatu: An Account of Two Grassroots Adult Literacy Projects

Abstract

Two Vanuatu adult literacy projects, in the medium of Bislama, are described and discussed in this thesis. An emerging grassroots literacy model underlay the projects in which literacy participants were generating their programmes. Although two NGOs had instigated the projects and continue to provide support, village literacy participants were observed working towards ownership of their own programmes. Village-level priorities were assessed and evaluated in order for the successful implementation of the programmes. The thesis presents a literature review containing sociolinguistic background to the projects and information on literacy models, and a report on six dimensions of the projects. The conclusion proposes general evaluation parameters for such projects relating particularly to the extent to which the grassroots model is implemented.