Digital Readiness in Adult Education: Identifying Challenges among Postgraduate Distance Education Learners

Digital readiness in adult education refers to the preparedness of learners to effectively access, use, and apply digital technologies for learning and professional development. The present study aimed (i) to assess the level of digital readiness among postgraduate distance education learners in the context of adult education, and (ii) to identify the major challenges faced by them in developing and applying digital literacy skills. The study followed the descriptive survey method, and data were collected from 110 postgraduate distance learners of the Study Centre of Dukhulal Nibaran Chandra College, Aurangabad, Murshidabad under Netaji Subhas Open University, West Bengal, using a self-constructed 5-point Likert scale with a reliability coefficient of 0.74 (Cronbach’s Alpha). The findings revealed that the learners possessed moderate to high digital readiness, particularly in basic computer and communication skills, but faced significant challenges related to limited internet access, inadequate institutional support, low confidence, and difficulty in managing digital content. The study implies that enhancing digital readiness through institutional training programmes, infrastructure improvement, and continuous learner support is essential to strengthen digital inclusion and promote effective lifelong learning in adult education.