Literacy Basics - Community Literacy of Ontario

Why People Drop Out

ABC Life Literacy's “Who Wants to Learn?” research found that the most common reasons people dropped out of literacy programs were job related conflicts, money problems and childcare issues. The following chart lists the reasons cited by adult learners for leaving their literacy program.

(Note: Learners could cite more than one reason)

In addition, ABC Life Literacy's “Who Wants to Learn?” research found that adult learners report that many issues and concerns affect their ability to concentrate on learning. The top factors affecting concentration were concerns about money; being tired or having trouble sleeping; concerns about childcare issues; worries over job-related conflicts; and personal anxieties.

Other research from a wide variety of sources has identified additional factors: low self-esteem; a lack of self-confidence; a real or perceived lack of progress; insufficient opportunities to achieve success; learning (or learning materials) not considered relevant to the student's needs; previous negative school experiences and a negative perception of the value of education.

It is critical for literacy practitioners to be aware of the barriers faced by adult students so that we can better understand what supports and motivators might help them to stay. It is also important for practitioners to note that many of the barriers are personal or life issues that may be beyond our control to change.

We will leave the closing of this section on “Why Do They Leave” with a heart-felt and important quote from ABC Life Literacy's “Who Wants to Learn?” report. Those of us who want to support adult learners to succeed, whether we are literacy practitioners, government officials, researchers or the general public, would benefit from reflecting on this quote.

“Many learners may be ‘just one circumstance away' from dropping out. Furthermore, in the face of other urgent needs, the benefits of improving literacy skills may seem inconsequential.”

Questions for Reflection

1. Are there any common reasons why learners leave your literacy program before achieving their goals?
2. How does your literacy agency support students who are at risk of leaving the program? What actions could you take to improve in this area?
3. Does your program identify at-risk learners when they first enter your program? If so, how?
4. What are the characteristics of your program's at-risk learners?
5. What new strategies or program changes might you be able to put in place to help learners cope with the barriers they face?

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