Selecting instructional media in functional adult literacy programmes in Lusaka district: challenges and possible solutions.

The study investigated the Selection of Instructional Media in Functional Adult Literacy Programmes in Lusaka District. It sought to establish the criteria used by facilitators when selecting the instructional media in Functional Adult Literacy programmes in Lusaka District as well as the challenges they encountered in order to provide possible solutions to the identified challenges. The study was necessary due to little information on how instructional media were being utilized in Functional Adult Literacy programmes in Lusaka District. The study was guided by three objectives: (i) to identify the criteria used by the facilitators in selecting instructional media in functional adult literacy programmes in Lusaka District; (ii) to establish the challenges faced by the facilitators in selecting instructional media in functional adult literacy programmes in Lusaka District; and (iii) to determine solutions to the challenges faced by the facilitators in selecting instructional media in functional adult literacy programmes in Lusaka District. A case study design was employed by the study Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using content and thematic analysis. The study sample included 16 facilitators from the eight sub-centres in Lusaka District. The study established that Instructional media for Functional Adult Literacy programmes in Lusaka District were selected on the basis of availability. The major challenges faced by facilitators were; lack of funding, infrastructure and types of learners. The other challenge was that the facilitators lacked training on how to use advanced instructional media like computers. The facilitators also bemoaned the lack of standardized curriculum for functional adult literacy programmes. The study recommends that the government should allocate more funds towards the procurement of Instructional Media for Functional Adult Literacy and also consider providing proper incentives for the as a way of motivating them. The government should also provide training opportunities for facilitators in order to keep them up-to-date with the recent trends in the field of Functional Adult Literacy.
Key Words: Instructional Media, Functional Adult Literacy.