Practical Issues in the Democratisation of Research in Non-Formal Education in the Commonwealth

Abstract

In the 1970s, non-formal education grew across fields like literacy, rural development, and adult learning, but the research around it often stayed in the hands of experts far removed from the communities involved. This paper looks at how research could be made more democratic, shaped with the participation of those whose lives it affects. It discusses approaches such as action research and participatory research, where communities help to create and use knowledge rather than just provide information. At the same time, it reflects on the difficulties of this process: language, access, time, resources, and the influence of class and social divisions. Instead of giving final answers, it opens up questions about how knowledge might be shared in ways that serve justice and collective change.