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National Functional Literacy Program, Ghana

Briefing/policy paper

Briefing/policy paper

The NFLP is being implemented in every administrative district in all ten regions of Ghana. Around three quarters (75%) of classes are located in rural areas. Participants in the NFLP obtain functional literacy in a Ghanaian language (and, in some cases later on, English), numeracy skills, and participation in development and income generating activities, all at no fee. Although no criteria for eligibility are enforced, the programme is self-targeted at groups for which illiteracy rates are highest. The total estimated cost of the NFLP is US$46 million. Of this, 60% is provided by World Bank credit, 30% by the Government of Ghana, and the remaining 10% by communities and NGOs. Between 1992 and 2002, close to 2 million adults had been recruited to the programme, and around 1.5 million had completed the programme.

Ernest Aryeetey and Evelyn Kwakye