A Comparative Analysis of Two Rural Development Programs: Sri Lanka's Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and Thailand's Functional Literacy Program -- A Participant and Expert Profile
A Comparative Analysis of Two Rural Development Programs: Sri Lanka's Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and Thailand's Functional Literacy Program -- A Participant and Expert Profile
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Date
1983
Authors
Arrindell, Nicholas John Jr.
Advisor
Huden, Daniel
Citation
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative
analysis of two rural development programs: Sri Lanka's
Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and Thailand's Functional
Literacy program. The initial aim was to ascertain whether
these programs have kept pace with the changing environments
and aspirations of their participants. An objective was to
investigate the educational component of each program by
profiling the opinion of experts and participants who have been
involved with either program for a substantial period of time
(four years or more). This research project sought to
determine whether the philosophical approach employed by each
program was helpful to participants with regard to further
educational services. This research project also sought to
determine whether participants from the Sarvodaya Shramadana
Movement or Functional Literacy Program have matured beyond the
educational parameters (i.e., course offerings, program
objectives, mode of delivery, etc.) of their respective
programs. A positional-repututional approach was employed to
ascertain a population for this study.
Indepth interviews where held in the following cities and
villages: Bangkok, Columbo, Hennawala, Key Lorn, Makandana,
Moratuwa, New York, Sribuangern and Washington, D.C. Of the 81
subjects, 57 were participants who had actually been involved
in either the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement or Functional
Literacy Program. There were 24 subjects who were considered
to have expert knowledge.
The data collection process for this study utilized a
variety of interviewing techniques. To further analyze the
data the use of SPSS Multiple response variable procedure which
permitted the use of dichotomous labeling provided frequency
distributions and cross tabulations by category.
The conclusions show that although the majority of
participants benefited from being either rural development
programs, participants felt that neither program could
accommodate their desire for further educational services.
Participant educational choice appears to be strongly
influenced by the proximity of a village, local town or urban
centers. The philosophical ideals espoused by the Sarvodaya
Shramadana Movement or Functional Literacy Program had minimal
influence on participants with regard to helping encourage
further educational pursuit. Moreover, this study shows that
older youth and adults can and often do continue to examine
their lives through a series of complex decision-making
strategies that enable some to pursue new directions.