Exploring adult literacy issues within rural communities in Northern Ireland

• Main Author: Nugent, Marion Elizabeth
• Published: Queen's University Belfast 2016
• Subjects: 302.2
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.709686

This study is set against the backdrop of equity in education agendas and government policy focused on improving essential skills. The purpose of this study is to give a voice to rural adults with the aim of understanding through interviews and storied memoirs, the experiences and difficulties they face with literacy in relation to inclusion, participation and success in education and also how literacy has influenced and shaped the quality of their lives. From the literature review three research questions were generated. What barriers do the research subjects perceive to have contributed to preventing them acquiring confidence in reading, writing and communicating orally in a range of everyday contexts and how has this influenced their social behaviour and subsequent attainment? What are the current perceived barriers impeding their progress as rural adults towards literacy achievement and what is their perception of how this has impacted on their social behaviour and the quality of their adult lives? Can the research subjects identify a pivotal moment in their lives as rural adults in regard to their issues with literacy and how has this impacted on its quality? Key findings demonstrate that rural positioning (through life stages), school positioning and work positioning impacts on the social learning of rural adults influencing what and how rural individuals think and this subsequently impacts on the current position in their adult life. The collection of influences impacting on the current positioning of rural adults has an impact on their decision to seek help with literacy. This research emphasises that the nature of educational contact and opportunity is particularly crucial for rural adults if their lives are to be transformed for the better development of their achievements and sense of fulfilment.