The study, ‘It’s never too late to learn’, was conducted by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). It highlights how engagement with adult literacy services is a positive adjustment in the lives of older learners with literacy difficulties. In the majority of cases, it results in improved reading and writing skills, increased self-confidence and a welcome extension of often limited social networks.

The study shows that even family occasions, for example birthdays and anniversaries, can be stressful events. Because of literacy difficulties, some older people had never bought a birthday card for family members; instead they gave gifts that did not require them to read or write.

“I used to dread when me nieces or nephews had birthdays because I never got them a card. I never did … I wouldn’t have been able to write it out. I used to just drop down to them and give them money. The worst time was when it was me Ma and Da’s Silver Wedding Anniversary and I really wanted to be able to get them a card, but I couldn’t.” Quote from 51 year old male.

The aim of the NALA study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the very complex issues surrounding older literacy learners, including past educational experiences and attainment, work histories and coping strategies. The respondents in the study described strong negative views about their formal schooling and how the experience had instilled a sense of failure, disappointment and shame in them. Overall, participants in the study felt that attending school had been a detrimental rather than beneficial experience for them.

Participants in the study also reported that their employment histories had consisted of engaging in what they describe as manual, menial labour that involved working unsocial hours. They gave accounts of how they had gravitated towards this type of employment because of their lack of educational attainment and their literacy difficulties. The findings suggest that due to literacy difficulties, the older learners felt that they had missed out on opportunities for promotion, training and development in the workplace.

“As many older people in Ireland did not fully benefit from the limited state education system of the past, it is only fitting that every effort is made to ensure that those wishing to develop their literacy can have their needs met and that organisations working with them strive to ensure their services are fully accessible to them. Our findings demonstrate the need for more intensive tuition across the adult literacy service. With this in mind we recommend that extra resources are made available to expand the degree of services available to meet the needs of older learners,” said Inez Bailey, Director, National Adult Literacy Agency.

In the context of current Government policy, and its implementation in the area of adult literacy, NALA recommends convening a forum to examine its impact. The forum would include older people, as well as representatives of statutory and non-statutory bodies concerned with older people. The forum will explore the extent to which their needs are being identified, addressed and catered for in the areas of adult education and training.

The study ‘It’s never too late to learn’, was launched by the National Adult Literacy Agency at the conference ‘Making it Matter’ at the National College of Ireland, Dublin. The conference was organised by the Irish Research Association of Adult & Community Education (IRAACE) in order to provide a platform for those working in adult education to 'showcase' their work and experiences. It also offers an opportunity for delegates to discuss current research, methodologies, challenges and conclusions.

The Irish Research Association of Adult & Community Education (IRAACE) is a network for those engaged in or interested in research in the adult and community education fields. This includes those working in adult basic education, vocational and community education, further and higher education.

Ends

For media queries please contact:

Kerry Lawless, Research Manager, NALA, 087 8254545 / 01 8509116
Clare McNally, Public Relations Officer, NALA, 01 8509109 / 087 6486292

Background information:

The National Adult Literacy Agency:

The National Adult Literacy Agency is an independent membership organisation, concerned with developing policy, advocacy, research and offering advisory services in adult literacy work in Ireland. NALA was established in 1980 and has campaigned since then for the recognition of, and response to, the adult literacy issue in Ireland. NALA is principally funded by the Department of Education and Science.

According to the last international survey about half a million Irish adults have problems with basic reading, writing and maths.
Events
NALA Student Days 2010

Theme: Voter Education
National Forum for Adult Liter...

National Forum for Adult Literacy Tutors 2010
NALA AGM 2010