Shame often a hurdle for people with low literacy levels

Education - Shame often a hurdle for people with low literacy levels

According to the nationwide Leo study, 6.2 million people aged between 18 and 64 in Germany have considerable difficulties with reading and writing. According to conservative estimates by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, 630,000 people in this age group in Hesse are affected by low literacy. Introducing them to basic education courses is often difficult. "If you look at how many people we reach and come to us, and put that in relation to the number of people affected, then that is an absolute drop in the ocean," says Christoph Köck, Director of the Hessian Adult Education Association.

"The uptake of further education courses in the field of basic education and literacy is generally rather low, as the Leo Study 2018 shows," explains a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education. The state of Hesse promotes various low-threshold access routes to measures.

There are a variety of measures and attempts, says Köck. Not only those affected themselves are involved, but also their family and work environment. "That works to some extent, but it requires enormous human resources if you really want to tackle the issue systematically and successfully."

Köck emphasizes the untapped potential of people with low literacy. They are generally understood in a deficit-oriented way - in the sense that they can do nothing or very little. "It is underestimated that those affected often have other skills, for example orientation without being able to read city maps or certain manual skills."

This is also emphasized by Hans-Friedrich Lammers, who is responsible for basic education at the Kassel Region Adult Education Centre. An estimated 41,000 people in the city and district of Kassel have low literacy levels. "That goes right across all social classes," says Lammers. In order to reach them, the main focus is on personal advice, low-threshold offers and cooperation partners as multipliers. "These include various offices in the city and district of Kassel, employment agencies and job centers as well as advice centers."

The biggest problem is social discrimination against those affected, says Kerstin Goldenstein. She is a member of the board of the umbrella organization Alfa-Selbsthilfe based in Ludwigshafen. The association, which is dependent on donations, aims to establish self-help groups as a central pillar of literacy and basic education in Germany. Illiteracy is still a taboo subject, says the 64-year-old, who had a spelling weakness herself. She herself hid her weakness throughout her entire professional life.

"People don't dare to talk about it or ask for help." The shame and fear of stigmatization are too great. This also prevents many from accepting further training opportunities. "The negative judgments since early childhood, coupled with the daily challenges of coping with situations without attracting attention, have left their mark. Quite a few become depressed or lose themselves in addiction." People with low literacy levels are not trusted with anything. "They are labeled as stupid and lazy," says Goldenstein. This already starts at school. "No-one responds to their pace."

Goldenstein calls for more early language support, further training and awareness-raising courses for teachers, for example. Self-help groups are also important, where those affected can experience that they are not alone and that they can free themselves from their role as victims. According to Goldenstein, there are currently only ten such groups in Germany.

Above all, however, there needs to be an open social approach to the topic of illiteracy. "Before those affected can open up, society must first open up," emphasizes Goldenstein. Only then can they muster the courage to change something in their lives and realize how much they can achieve and learn.

The German Adult Education Association offers a low-threshold service with the vhs learning portal. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the free digital learning platform includes a wide range of online courses in the areas of literacy, basic education and German as a second language.

For people with low literacy levels, the increasing digitalization of everyday life represents a hurdle on the one hand, as numerous processes, such as opening an online account or applying to authorities, are still text-based, says project manager Michael Thiel. "On the other hand, it can be a wonderful door opener." The vhs learning portal only requires registration, after which participants can navigate the platform unobserved. The offer has been well received.

"Digitalization has two sides for people with little or no literacy skills," says Goldenstein. On the one hand, it offers new, discreet opportunities to meet and learn. "On the other hand, the barriers to being able to use a computer are very high." The prerequisite is being able to read well. Contracts, forms, passwords - these are all major hurdles for those affected. "You're afraid of doing something wrong. What's more, many of those affected don't have the financial means to afford a proper laptop or smartphone," she reports. After all, they often work in low-paid jobs.

Carina Lamberti, who is responsible for basic education at the Frankfurt Adult Education Center, also reports this. It is not uncommon for self-paying students to lack both the time and financial resources to take part in basic education courses. "They often have a family to support."

In her experience, the increasingly digital world - with job portals, online banking and ticket apps - is a huge hurdle for many people with low literacy levels. "It is therefore important that there are still analog, personal services in addition to digital ones to enable them to participate."