6.4. MATERIALS

6.4.1. Materials Used in ABE Programs

Providers were asked to identify the kinds of materials used in the programs. Twenty-six of them reported using textbooks and workbooks (see Table 6-15). The second most used type of materials was "any I can find" and teacher-made. The third most popular sources were Laubach literature, newspaper and magazines. Only 3 percent reported using materials provided by the ministries of education.

Instructors tend to use textbooks more than any other kind of materials. By and large, textbooks are not written for under-educated adults, much less under-educated women. Textbooks aimed at persons with less than functional literacy skills are usually targeted at young children and adolescents, and are not adequate for under-educated women. It is no coincidence, perhaps, that the second most widely used materials fall into the categories of "anything I can find" and teacher-made materials. Yet, few providers described materials development as part of their official job description or responsibilities (see Table 6.8)