Reframing Adult Literacy and Numeracy Course Outcomes: A Social Capital Perspective. An Adult Literacy National Project Report

This study investigated whether adult literacy and numeracy courses produced social capital outcomes, which are changes in students' connections with networks of people. Interviews seeking information about participation in adult literacy and numeracy courses were conducted with 57 students and 18 teachers in four courses, one each in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and two in New South Wales. Included in the participant group were students from non-English speaking backgrounds, Indigenous students, youth and mature-aged (45 and over) students. The study found that 80% of the students improved the structure of their networks and the way they communicated, as well as contributing to positive socioeconomic benefits in the areas of education and learning, employment and the quality of working life, and access to goods and services. Reporting on these outcomes may go some way towards providing a more complete picture of the benefits of literacy and numeracy courses, emphasizing that these courses are about more than the acquisition of a set of technical skills. At the same time, it is recognized that this may be problematic. (Contains 14 tables and 1 figure.) [This report was produced with funding provided under the Adult Literacy National Project by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Science and Training.]