1. Research Study Publications

“Innovations in non-formal education” (2002)

During 6-10 September 1999, APPEAL convened an ARTC technical meting at the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), one of the ARTC members. Participants recommended that ARTC members should undertake joint research projects to document and disseminate the innovative approaches to basic education and lifelong learning implemented in the region. The meeting, therefore, focused on the organization of these projects. ARTC members selected the following topic for investigation:

1. Innovative approaches to functional literacy for poverty alleviation (Bangladesh and China)
2. Innovative approaches to non-formal education for sustainable development (India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand)
3. Innovative approaches to lifelong adult learning (Australia, Korea, and Malaysia)

This document is divided into two sections. Part I is a synthesis of the reports from the nine member institutions. Part II presents the highlights of the research findings contained in the nine reports. The complete reports of the participating member institutions are available by contacting APPEAL.

 “Income-generating programmes for poverty alleviation through non-formal education” (2003)
During 8-13 September 2001, APPEAL convened an ARTC technical meeting in conjunction with Lifelong Learning Forum in Chiangmai, Thailand, one of the ARTC members. Participants recommended that ARTC members which specialize in implementing income-generating programme for poverty alleviation through non-formal education (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand) should undertake joint research projects to document and disseminate the innovative approaches in this area.

This document is divided into two sections. Part I is a synthesis of the reports from the six member institutions. Part II presents the highlights of the research findings contained in the six reports. The publications can be found in resources.

2. Workshops and meetings

ARTC  meetings for technical contribution:

• September 1997 (INRULED: Baoding, China) “Inter-Country Resource and Training Consortium”
• 6-10 September, 1999 (KEDI: Seoul, Korea), “Joint research on innovative approaches of basic education and lifelong learning in Asia-Pacific region”
• 8-13 September, 2000 (DAM: Chaka, Bangladesh), “Promoting lifelong learning through community centres”
• 8-13 September, 2001 (SICED: Chiangmai, Thailand), Review Meeting on ARTC
• January 2003 (INRULED: Baoding, China), Review Meeting on ARTC
• October 2004 (JICA: Tokyo, Japan), “Future NFE Programmes and Strategies”

ACCU-APPEAL planning meetings for regional EFA contribution (attendance of selected members):

• 9-13 July, 2002 (ACCU: Tokyo, Japan)
• 2-5 December 2003 (ACCU: Tokyo, Japan)
• 12-16 July 2005 (ACCU: Tokyo, Japan)

Sub-regional training workshops on capacity building for CLC personnel in the management of CLCs and implementation of continuing education, for regional EFA contribution:

• 29 April - 4 May, 2002 (INRULED: Hebei, China)
• 29 April – 4 May, 2002 (SEAMEO/INNOTECH: Quezon city, Philippines)
• 20-25 May, 2002 (DAM: Dhaka, Banglaesh)

3. Software development
a)    Manual & Hand Book Development
The ARTC members contributed the development of many APPEAL publications such as Handbook on Effective Implementation of Continuing Education at the Grassroots Level (2001), CLC Management Handbook (2003), and APPEAL Resource Pack. See Resources.

b)    Software Development
Three ARTC member institutions – SEAMEO/INNOTECH (Philippines) and the Department of NFE (Thailand) - are developing a prototype software package for literacy and post-literacy education that will help train illiterates and neo-literates to consolidate and expand their literacy skills.

4. Information exchange and networking

In addition to this website ARTC also shares information and ideas to one another through the Bulletin Board at Asia-Pacific Literacy Data Base developed by ACCU (Japan).  This network covers ACCU’s Literacy Resource Centres for Girls and Women (LRC) and other active GOs and NGOs in the field of NFE. You are welcome to join the network at www.accu.or.jp/litdbase/board/index.htm

5. ARTC Secondment Programme

APPEAL started a secondment programme inviting staff of ARTC members for the duration of 3 to 6 months with a possible further extension to 12 months. The main objective of this programme is to strengthen the cooperation between APPEAL and ARTC members. Specifically, this programme will enable APPEAL to better respond to needs and requests from Member States. In addition, we hope that the staff of ARTC members will obtain practical experience through exposure to the work of UNESCO, thereby contributing to the staff development of their organizations.

The main tasks of the ARTC secondment staff are:

1.    To assist APPEAL in carrying out various literacy and continuing education activities such as research, meetings, documentation and technical support.  
2.    To collect and analyze information on EFA, especially literacy and continuing education, for developing APPEAL’s strategies and actions
3.    To coordinate and strengthen collaborative mechanisms amongst ARTC members

The following are the ARTC experts who worked with APPEAL:
Jan.-Jul. 04           Mr. Leonard Tabaranza (Philippine: INNOTECH)
Feb.-May 04         Ms. Wilaipan Somtrakool (Thailand: ONFEC)
Aug.-Nov. 04        Mr. Nafiz Uddin Khan (Bangladesh: DAM)
Nov. 04-May. 05   Ms. Valentina Belosludtseva (Kazakhstan: NOB)
Jan.05-Jul. 05       Ms. Li Fang Wang (China: INRULED)
Jul.-Dec. 05           Mr. Muhammad Bilal Aziz (Pakistan: BLCC)
Dec.05-Jul.06        Mr. Edy Hartiyanto (Indonesia: BP-PLSP REGIONAL II JAYAGIRI)

6. United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD) Team

The United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD), launched in 2003, is further promoted within the framework of EFA in cooperation with the EFA partners.To further the initiatives for UNLD within the EFA framework, the resource team for Asia and the Pacific was proposed to be constituted using the existing networks and resources in the region such as ATRC and ACCU’s LRC network rather than creating a new team of individual experts.  In this view, DAM was invited as a team member to represent ARTC.The resource team is to function in close contact with the Thematic Working Group (TWG) for EFA, and to provide technical assistance to each country to formulate concrete action plans for UNLD in consultation with the local counterparts as well as UNESCO offices and other UN agencies in the following 6 areas: policy, programme, capacity building, research, community participation, monitoring and evaluation.More details of UNLD such as issues and the team members, can be found under the APPEAL’s website at the UNLD website