Influence of adult and non-formal education programmes on the attainment of the sustainable development goal four in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study examined the extent to which adult and non-formal education programmes could facilitate the attainment of the sustainable development goal four (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all) in Bayelsa State. The descriptive survey research design was used. A sample of two hundred and thirty two comprising adult learners, facilitators and staff of the agency for adult and non-formal education in Yenegoa Local Government was randomly selected for the study. A structured instrument; “Questionnaire for Adult Education and Sustainable Development Goal Four (QAESDGF)” designed in 4 point Likert format was used for the study. It was face validated by experts in the Niger Delta University. A reliability coefficient of 0.78 of the instrument was obtained using the test-retest method. The mean and standard deviation were used in the analysis. A criterion mean of 2.50 was used as basis for accepting or rejecting the results. The result showed that adult and non-formal education programmes can promote literacy and numeracy skills, technical and vocational skills as well as provide inclusive education for the disabled to meet the targets of goal four of the sustainable development goals. However, it was found that Adult and non-formal education programmes have not been effective in the promotion of girl-child education in Bayelsa state. It was therefore recommended that the Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education in Bayelsa State should intensify efforts with regards to mounting up programmes that are focused on providing literacy and numeracy as well as technical and vocational skills. And such programmes should be made inclusive such that it caters for the girl-child as well as the physically challenged and disabled persons in Bayelsa State.Keywords: Adult Education, Programmes, Sustainable Development, Goals, Life-long, Attainmen