Before the OECD released the data from the most recent PIAAC Survey of Adult Skills, we were anticipating what the new report would tell us. Based on reports about the current state of education in this country, we knew that we would likely see a rise in the number of adults with low literacy and numeracy skills. What the survey revealed, however, we were not prepared for.
The new survey indicates that over a quarter of our adult population, 28%, read at or below the lowest proficiency level. That should stop everyone in their tracks to question what is being done to ensure these adults have the opportunity to improve their skills.
At this moment for these 59 million adults, it’s not a question of why they read at the lowest levels, it’s about how we help them. Regardless of what led them to have low literacy, we can’t go back and change the past; we can only move forward toward a solution.
Adult education programs work—we know this based on both research and inspiring personal testimonials of achievement. Yet, the number of adults with low literacy skills has continued to grow since the last PIAAC data was reported in 2017. This is because less than 10% of adults in need of literacy services enrolled in a program. The rest never received help, remaining at the lowest levels.
To me, this is our biggest dilemma: with so much great evidence-based adult education programming out there, that we only reach a small fraction of those who could benefit.
We need to understand the causes for low enrollment if we want to make improvements. The programs are there, so we need to know why they are not reaching more adults who could use their services.
As much as it would be nice to pinpoint one direct answer, instead, there seems to be a web of interconnected challenges that prevent adults from enrolling in literacy services that we need to begin untangling.
Stigma
There’s a stigma associated with not being able to read. Have you ever told someone for the first time that there are 59 million adults in our country who can’t read? Almost always, that statistic shocks them. It’s incomprehensible to most people. But once they get past the shock, their next question is, “how?” People want to know how it’s possible that so many adults that have been through the education system still struggle to read.
The blame for a person’s perceived failures is often placed on the individual. They can be characterized as lazy or unintelligent by society, leaving adults with low literacy skills feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Yet, those of us in the adult literacy and education field know there’s many legitimate reasons for low adult literacy in our country; making society understand and accept that is a whole different discussion. But for adults with low skills, the stigma can often hold them back from seeking help, because doing so would call attention to the fact that they cannot read well.
Awareness
With so many adults investing so much energy trying to hide the fact that they can’t read, they’re probably not spending much time looking for or learning about programs. This is supported by a recent study commissioned by ALL IN that confirms 80% of potential adult learners knew very little about adult education programming, some not even knowing they exist.
Yet in that same study, when presented with the opportunity to learn, an overwhelming majority of potential learners were interested in participating in learning in some capacity. The number one benefit? Improved self-confidence.
People want to feel better about themselves, but if they don’t know that there’s a program in their community that could help them, then we continue to fall short of meeting their needs. This requires information about adult literacy programs be accessible so that people can find them. We need to untangle the issues of stigma and awareness.
Life’s Barriers
Barriers like stigma and awareness are still only a piece of the problem. As we know, even if adults do know about literacy programs and take steps to learn more or enroll, there are a number of more concrete barriers that can prevent them from attending. These might include childcare or scheduling conflicts with work and other priorities, lack of reliable transportation, or the perceived cost of enrollment.
We need to do better at taking these barriers out of the equation and meet learners where they are, when they need services, and utilize technology. We need to make it as easy as possible for someone to take steps to improve their future.
What Now?
It’s time to dissolve the stigma by showing adults with low literacy skills how others just like them have improved their lives.
We need to build their awareness of the opportunities available within their own communities. It’s on all of us to contribute to awareness building, and sometimes we might need to think outside the box to get in front of the people we need to reach.
Let’s make it easy by reaching adults where they already are, such as in the workplace, social services, or with opportunities for virtual learning rather than adding more to their already filled plates.
Adult education works. So, let’s make it work.