'Educating Rita' syndrome taking its toll on marriages

The "Educating Rita" syndrome is alive and well in further and higher education, new research suggests.

A study found that women who returned to learning often faced a marriage breakdown.

Kathryn James, who examined the topic for the National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education, said: "This is quite a common occurrence, sometimes referred to as the 'Educating Rita' syndrome." In the film Educating Rita, Julie Walters plays a working- class housewife who failed at school and returns to study under the tutelage of Michael Caine. In the film, Rita's husband resents her enthusiasm for learning and they split up.

Ms James found that, as with Rita, most women continue their courses with a new-found confidence, even if it led to separation. A woman told the study: "I have suffered a broken marriage since starting back in education, but this is down to personal growth and new confidence."

Ms James said: "If you speak to tutors, it is something they all recognise. They do see some women who start to get more assured and confident as they start the courses and their partner doesn't like it.

"Most women do carry on with the course. They see learning as their route to earning if things do go wrong. It becomes more important still.

"Some do give up to save their marriage. Often they are the ones most in need of more qualifications who may be doing basic skills courses."

Ms James told of a woman who left school with A-levels when her family was reluctant for her to continue her studies because she was a woman. "She got married and began to look after children," she said. Later she went back to study and her husband became resentful. But she persevered and went on to do a teacher training course.

Ms James said she was not aware of any case in the reverse, with men being told they were ruining the marriage by returning to college. "I have heard of cases where men who have mental health difficulties return to learning. They have a good time ... making new friends and there is resentment at home – but not break-ups," she said.

The study said many of those returning to education saw changes that could be considered traumatic – such as a marriage break-up – as a route to a more fulfilling life.

Another woman said she was more stressed since starting further education. "I never had headaches and now I am rarely without one. Despite this, I would still do the same again. Headaches are better than boredom."