Parental Adult Literacy and Early Childhood Development Outcomes in Kebbi State

This study examined the relationship between parental participation in adult literacy programmes and early childhood development outcomes in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Parental literacy has been theoretically linked to enhanced parenting practices, richer home learning environments, and improved child development outcomes; however, empirical evidence for this pathway in North West Nigeria is scarce. The study employed a matched-pair comparison design involving 200 children aged 3 to 6 years from households where at least one parent had completed an adult literacy programme, compared with 200 children from demographically matched households with no parent programme participation. Child development assessments using the Early Childhood Development Index and home learning environment inventories formed the primary data collection instruments, supplemented by parental interviews. Analysis of covariance controlling for household socioeconomic status revealed significantly better cognitive development, language development, and school readiness scores among children of adult literacy programme graduates. Home learning environment quality fully mediated the relationship between parental literacy programme participation and child language development outcomes. Maternal programme participation had stronger effects on child development outcomes than paternal participation across most measured domains. Recommendations include formally incorporating parenting education and home literacy stimulation components into adult literacy programme curricula, developing illustrated take-home learning activity guides for programme participants, strengthening coordination between adult education centres and early childhood education services, and conducting longer-term longitudinal follow-up studies to track sustained child development effects. Keywords: parental literacy, early childhood development, adult literacy, home learning environment, Kebbi State.