TY - JOUR
T1 - Opportunities for Adult Learners in Ghana’s Higher Education Institutions
T2 - Limiting Factors and Strategies
AU - Biney, Isaac Kofi
AU - Salifu, Inusah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Association for Continuing Higher Education.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This article focuses on a case study of adult learners in Accra Learning Center (ALC) to explore limiting factors to learning in higher education institutions (HEIs) using distance education (DE) mode in Ghana. Educated adults possess experiences that help them take up leadership roles and transform communities. However, limiting factors including lack of media support and employment opportunities to adult learners in HEIs were highlighted by this study. Mixed method research (MMR) that tilted toward qualitative study was employed, and a dialogical approach to MMR was adopted. Semi-structured interview schedules were developed and administered to 45 adult learners. Random sampling procedure was used, and descriptive and interpretivist approaches were adopted in presenting the results. Simple descriptive statistics were adopted to help build a case for using the qualitative data which sought participants’ voices, meanings, experiences, and understanding of limiting factors to learning in HEIs by DE mode. Poverty, the high cost of education, and poor time management constituted some of the limiting factors to adult learners in HEIs. The article recommends that HEIs adopt flexible terms of fee payment for adult learners and that young adult learners seek jobs and learn to save while learning in HEIs.
AB - This article focuses on a case study of adult learners in Accra Learning Center (ALC) to explore limiting factors to learning in higher education institutions (HEIs) using distance education (DE) mode in Ghana. Educated adults possess experiences that help them take up leadership roles and transform communities. However, limiting factors including lack of media support and employment opportunities to adult learners in HEIs were highlighted by this study. Mixed method research (MMR) that tilted toward qualitative study was employed, and a dialogical approach to MMR was adopted. Semi-structured interview schedules were developed and administered to 45 adult learners. Random sampling procedure was used, and descriptive and interpretivist approaches were adopted in presenting the results. Simple descriptive statistics were adopted to help build a case for using the qualitative data which sought participants’ voices, meanings, experiences, and understanding of limiting factors to learning in HEIs by DE mode. Poverty, the high cost of education, and poor time management constituted some of the limiting factors to adult learners in HEIs. The article recommends that HEIs adopt flexible terms of fee payment for adult learners and that young adult learners seek jobs and learn to save while learning in HEIs.
KW - Adult learners
KW - Ghana
KW - formal adult education
KW - higher education institutions
KW - limiting factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85152909621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07377363.2023.2178664
DO - 10.1080/07377363.2023.2178664
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85152909621
SN - 0737-7363
JO - Journal of Continuing Higher Education
JF - Journal of Continuing Higher Education
ER -