Publisher's Synopsis
Poverty and the inequalities associated with poverty have existed for centuries. The topic has experienced a revival of interest since recent "Make Poverty History Campaigns" have brought the stark realities of world inequalities to the fore. However, public policy documents rarely highlight the contribution that adult education can make towards poverty reduction. This omission perhaps reflects, in part, a lack of understanding of the nature of adult education as a tool for development. This book attempts to plug some of those omissions in understanding for policy makers, practitioners and researchers alike. Beginning with a conceptual analysis of poverty and its relationship to adult education, subsequent chapters offer a variety of international perspectives on issues related to adult education policy, research and practice for poverty reduction. They address one or more cross cutting themes of empowerment/consciousness raising, targeted community participation, sustainability, gender inequalities, social capital, multi-sectoral approaches, and context-based literacies education. These themes all share a common commitment to holistic, pro-poor interpretations of poverty. Some chapters highlight concerns and issues, others demonstrate what can be done if the commitment and political will to make a difference are present. A concluding chapter looks at future research agendas and possibilities.
