Literacy students in Youth and Adult Education (YAE) and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This article reflects on part of the data produced in a postdoctoral research study that sought, among other points, to identify how the Covid-19 pandemic affected a group of women enrolled in literacy classes in Youth and Adult Education (YAE). A qualitative study was conducted, with semi-structured interviews with four women. We found that their stories are marked by similar vulnerabilities: they were enrolled in school and employed, ensuring their financial independence, but all of that changed during the pandemic. Initially, they tried to adapt to remote activities and classes, but later, the school where they were enrolled closed permanently. Thus, in addition to all the challenges that other people had to deal with during this period of uncertainty, our interviewees also had to deal with this additional problem and, consequently, interrupted their studies in YAE. Thus, we found that, during the research period, they experienced the consequences of the pandemic in their daily lives and dealt with the effects of the changes that occurred at that time, especially about school life. In their trajectories, the pandemic meant an abrupt change in their lives: loss of income, moving to another city, and no time to replan their paths.