Really? Then how do you explain all the people who never had access to education learning to read as adults and then going on to gain a GED and the graduating from college?

When slavery ended, scores of Black freedmen learned to read and educated themselves for the most part.

Look up the word autodidact and look up famous autodidacts. Take a look at Benjamin Franklin.

In fact, the same is true about math. There have been several Fields Medal recipients who have come to math later in life.

Historically speaking, you were lucky if your esucation was consistent and uninterrupted. You were lucky if you got more than the absolute bare bones basics. Having to catch up was normal.

It is a limiting self belief of modernity that you can never catch up. Peiple have always done so.

I can agree that it's harder today. You need time and discipline. Thr world is a lot more distracting and people generally lack discipline. They're less likely to sit through frustration without seeking self soothing things.

But it's not because it's impossible or they lack the capacity. People have always done it historically and they still do when they want to.

If it's impossible to catch up, why are we wasting public monies on adult literacy programs and outreach on something that's impossible?