ABET imparts the nine essential skills that all employees need to perform their jobs at optimal levels. They include reading comprehension, document use, numeracy, writing and oral communication. This is in addition to the ability to work well with others and technology; think critically and logically; and continue learning new skills.
Employees who possess these skills are healthy, confident and productive workers. They also have the ability to grow with their industry; adapt swiftly to technological changes; and transition efficiently through all phases of their employment. These many benefits of any well-co-ordinated adult literacy training and adult numeracy training positively impact the bottom line. This is through notable gains in productivity, efficiency and accuracy. There is also a strong correlation between literacy and numeracy and health and safety in the workplace. These measurable results motivate continuous investment in ABET.
Enterprising companies prefer to outsource their adult literacy training and adult numeracy training requirements to an expert in the field. This is considering the many benefits of quality adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. Even a small investment in quality ABET will yield positive results that can be measured. The traditional formula for determining the return on investment for training entails subtracting the programme costs from its benefits, namely net profit. This indicates the amount returned as a benefit for every rand spent on adult literacy training and adult numeracy training.
An ABET specialist
Triple E Training is an ABET specialist. The company has a solid track record equipping low skilled employees with the basic skills that they need to excel in their jobs. They progress quickly and efficiently through all four levels of our ABET programmes. This is considering the quality of instruction that employees receive from our skilled and experienced training facilitators. Through placement assessments and awareness campaigns, employees are primed to succeed right from the outset. Failure is simply not an option. We are accredited by the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training [www.umalusi.org.za] to provide ABET. To learn more about this process, refer to https://www.umalusi.org.za/services/accreditation/.
ABET geared at low-skilled employees
Our ABET is geared specifically at your low-skilled employees. Many of these employees do not have the most basic skills that they need to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. They may be illiterate or functional illiterate.
Functional illiteracy is more difficult to identify than illiteracy. An illiterate person cannot even read simple consonant-vowel-consonant words, such as “cat” or “dog”. Individuals who are functional illiterate; however, may possess some early reading skills. For example, they may be able to name upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet. They may also understand that sounds can be represented with letters and that writing flows from left to right. With this limited knowledge, they are able to read very simple material. However, they lack the literacy skills required to navigate most of the literacy demands of everyday life. Because functional illiteracy also hinders peoples’ ability to perform their jobs well, it is also referred to as workplace illiteracy. Refer to UNESCO’s formal definition of functional literacy Functional literacy | UNESCO UIS.
South Africa has long been grappling with high levels of illiteracy. It is estimated that about 3,7-million citizens of the country are functional illiterate. A significant portion of these South Africans are of working age. Refer to https://www.dhet.gov.za/Planning%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation%20Coordination/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Adult%20illiteracy%20in%20South%20Africa_March%202022.pdf for sobering facts on functional illiteracy in the country. This further motivates the need for adult literacy training and adult numeracy training in the workplace.
ABET develops communication skills
ABET develops your employees’ communication skills. Employees who have completed our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training programmes can read for meaning.
Members of your team use their reading-comprehension skills to receive and follow instructions in writing from their supervisors and managers. Employees with reading-comprehension skills are also able to locate the most important part of a message and take necessary action quickly and efficiently. Moreover, they can summarise a lengthy text and act upon the information. Employees with sound reading-comprehension skills are also better able to work in a team environment. This is because colleagues can communicate efficiently with one another in writing to complete projects on time and according to the required quality.
ABET focuses on writing
ABET also focuses on honing your employees’ writing skills. Employees who have completed our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training are able to efficiently articulate their thoughts in writing. This is via email, texts, memos and social media platforms, such as WhatsApp. The latter has become a very important tool for communicating in business. Colleagues; project team members; and representatives of divisions, among others, are increasingly communicating via WhatsApp groups. This is considering that it provides a quick and efficient way of communicating with large groups of people simultaneously. However, apps such as these are only as effective as the writing and reading abilities of those using them.
Employees with sound writing skills know how to communicate a message in a straightforward, concise and pragmatic manner. Their writing also takes into consideration the recipients of the message and core information that needs to be contained therein. Irrespective of the method used to convey the message, their writing is, therefore, direct and contains pertinent content. It is also clear and grammatically pristine.
Reading and writing skills also enable your employees to work with important work documentation. These include forms for, among others, new hire; receipt of company property; employees handbook acknowledgement; leave of absence; and performance and discipline.
ABET and the spoken word
ABET also teaches employees how to convey information clearly in the spoken word. Employees who have completed our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training can interpret oral messages and act appropriately on the information. Verbal communication ensures that problems are detected and resolved early before they escalate. Effective interpersonal communication also brings people together and develops comradery. It is, therefore, especially relevant when a discussion is focused in areas of controversy or conflict. The importance of strong oral communication skills in the workplace cannot be overstated.
ABET develops foundational numeracy skills
ABET develops the foundational numeracy skills that are used together with those acquired during adult literacy training to navigate the world of work. Literacy and numeracy are closely related. For example, when our facilitators teach basic maths principles using real-world context, learners apply literacy and numeracy skills to solve problems.
Numeracy skills entail the ability to work with numbers. This includes common applications of addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and percentages.
However, workplace numeracy transcends only mathematical foundations. The skills imparted during adult numeracy training include the ability to observe, as well as think logically and critically to solve problems. These are required for just about any job, no matter how general and mundane. A person with basic numeracy skills can also convey mathematical information. This is in addition to being able to interpret any numerical data that concerns real-world situations.
The skills imparted by ABET
The skills imparted by ABET, including adult literacy training and adult numeracy training, also form the basis of other types of literacy. This includes technology and digital literacy, which has become especially important in the workplace. Digital illiteracy can have a significant negative impact on business performance considering that digital technology facilitates improved communication and collaboration. A case in point is the use of digital technologies to enable large meetings to be held with staff located in all areas of the world.
Technology literacy is the ability to use, comprehend, manage, and analyse technology safely, effectively and responsibly. This literacy includes using technology to evaluate, create and integrate information. However, this knowledge is not limited to just computers and the Internet. Rather, technology literacy can be applied to any technological device. Demand for this skill will continue to grow as South African industries continue to increasingly automate and mechanise their processes. https://www.mineralscouncil.org.za/industry-news/publications/position-papers/send/37-position-papers/1364-ten-insights-into-4ir provides interesting reading on the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on traditional jobs in the mining industry. It is one of many industries that is harnessing technology to improve productivity, efficiency and safety by removing human error from processes.
ABET kickstarts lifelong learning journey
ABET kickstarts a lifelong learning journey for many low skilled employees who did not have the opportunity to complete their education.
Employees who have completed adult literacy training have fundamental literacy skills that can be developed and facilitate further learning. These include the skills and strategies involved in reading, speaking, writing and interpreting thoughts. They are complemented by the foundational mathematical skills that are acquired during adult numeracy training.
Based on their experience participating in our ABET, employees gain a newfound respect and passion for learning. They want to continue acquiring new skills to improve their lives.
Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality adult literacy training and adult numeracy training solutions. www.eee.co.za
