Challenges Faced by First Generation Learners in Higher Education

Higher education is a powerful agent of social change and remains a valuable pursuit for the young people. The evolving landscape of Higher education has marked increasing number of First- generation learners joining the higher education sector. However, lack of prior college experience of their parents put them at a greater disadvantage and they face many challenges that cause impediment to their academic growth. The present study was undertaken to examine the challenges faced by the First- generation learners in Higher education and it was found that majority of both male and female learners resided in rural areas and had extended families of medium size. Majority of them studied in the Government aided colleges in the stream of Arts and had never experienced academic failure previously. Nearly one third of both males and females had broken families and a similar proportion of them were raised by single parents. Majority of learners from both genders reported to experience only medium level of support from their families, faculty members and peers. The major academic challenges experienced by the First- generation learners were the lack of language competency and inadequate educational resources tailored to suit their needs. The non - academic challenges reported by majority of them included remote location of their residence, difficulty in conveyance and the management of time. The First - generation learners coming from families with a different set of educational standards and expectations encounter distinct challenges making their academic journey more difficult from others. Intervention programmes that offer support to them may be organised to help them navigate their educational journey smoothly.