Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore and assess the practices and challenges of Integrated Functional
Adult Education in Jimma Zone rural woredas. In order to achieve this objective, the researcher used
mixed research design.. Multi stage ,stratified, systematic and purposive sampling were used to select
sites and samples. The instruments used for data collection were focus group discussion, interview and
questionnaire. FGD was conducted with 12 IFAE technique committee at woreda levels and interview
was conducted with 16 adults who completed two year adult education course before three years.
Questionnaires were filled by one hundred and fifty five IFAE facilitators. The researcher used note
,codes , audio and video cassette to collect and transcribe data. The analysis of qualitative and
quantitative data resulted in to four major themes, eight categories and twenty two subcategories. The
result of the study showed that the knowledge ,skill, attitude ,motivation and training of facilitators needs
further work to implement IFAE at expected level. Moreover those adults who have completed their two
year course read and identify alphabets and numbers easily but they read sentences and articles with low
speed. Furthermore, these findings revealed that IFAE improves adult graduates livelihood economically,
politically and socially. Those adults who completed the course started saving, improved their
agricultural product, income generation, keeping hygiene, protecting environment and utilizing modern
technology. Moreover, political change observed in practicing democracy ,obeying rules and regulations
and respecting one another. The major challenges observed in implementing IFAE were low attention
given by government and concerned sectors, shortage of resources such as text book, facilitators guide,
black board, chair, learning center, trained facilitator of IFAE and budget.. The appropriate remedies for
these challenges were governments', illiterate adults' and facilitators' commitment.. Government need to
fulfill all resources (material ,human and financial).Illiterate adults need to participate on the program
punctually. Facilitators need to be equipped in andragogy. As it has been concluded from the study both
facilitators and adults who completed the course were at moderate level in implementing IFAE.
Facilitators need training while adults need practice and use what they learn in their daily live to
improve community lively hood economically, politically and socially at high level. Hence, it has been
recommended that all government structures from Federal to Keble including ,universities, colleges,
NGO, illiterate and literate adults including IFAE facilitators need to play their role in implementing the
program.
