ABET is a basic human right that is enshrined in the South African constitution [saconstitution-web-eng.pdf (justice.gov.za)]. Section 29(1) clearly states that “everyone has the right to a basic education, including adult basic education” (ABE). The constitution refers to ABE. However, the terms Adult Basic Education and Training or Adult Education and Training are more relevant. Abbreviated as ABET and AET, respectively, both education and training receive equal focus. In the tentative years of formulating an ABET policy for the country, labour unions and business wanted ABET to impart workplace and life skills.
This is opposed to merely providing an education to adults. Moreover, there was a realisation that literacy training, alone, was insufficient to support real transformation. This is despite the important role that adult literacy training played in helping to liberate the country. During the struggle years, education was highly politicised. Adult literacy training provided the disenfranchised with an opportunity to access an education.
For many years, it was heavily opposed by the government of the day. Political movements, academia and non-government organisations had to fight hard to teach literacy to the marginalised of the day. Modern ABET offers adults an appropriate route to quality education that improves their lives. Refer to this document, WHAT IS ABET (pmg.org.za), by the Parliamentary Monitory group on ABET; its goals; importance; and origins.
Accessing quality ABET
Yet, scant attention has really been given to addressing the many challenges that prevent adults from accessing quality ABET. These are often overshadowed by the many problems that our school system is facing, although very important. This is considering that they contribute directly to the number of young adults who are leaving school prematurely with insufficient skills. However, what about those South Africans who have already slipped through the cracks of the education system? Without a means of accessing an education, there is no hope for these individuals. Many are unemployed, contributing to high youth joblessness – considered to be one of the country’s biggest risks. Sadly, a lot of these young adults have even given up looking for jobs.
Others are stuck in low-paying employment that also provides very little – if any – opportunity for growth and development. They also provide very little job security. They are becoming redundant as industry increasingly mechanises and automates. The economy is also becoming more services based, relying progressively more on knowledge workers. These services-based industries do not create many employment prospects for unskilled and semi-skilled workers in the same way that traditional sectors have done. Meanwhile, others are forced to work in the informal sector to earn their keep. Often piecemeal in nature, these jobs offer even less security; pay the absolute bare minimum; and provide less than conducive working conditions. Oftentimes, very little regard is given to occupational health and safety by these businesses.
Regulatory shortfalls
Bear in mind that informal industries are not regulated by the authorities in the same way as their formal counterparts are. There is also no minimum wage in these industries. Their workers also do not enjoy job benefits, such as medical and unemployment insurance, or a company pension or provident fund. Described as the “working poor”, many of these individuals also rely on welfare to supplement their earnings. This places a significant strain on limited government resources.
ABET programmes
Private sector driven ABET programmes continue to play an important role in addressing adult illiteracy. However, their impact has been limited, considering the magnitude of the challenge that lies ahead. There are currently about 4-million illiterate South African adults who need ABET. This excludes the many South Africans who have completed their matric but performed very poorly in literacy and numeracy. It is a persistent problem, the outcome of our ailing basic education system, especially in the townships and rural areas. These individuals also need ABET if they are going to add real value in an age of technology and information.
To address the issue, South Africa needs a co-ordinated approach to ABET that is driven by all private and public sector stakeholders. At present, public sector driven ABET programmes are the weak link. This is despite the prominence ABET was given by the new democratic government when it was elected to rule in 1994. Already during the build-up towards democracy, ABET was identified as having a key role to play in redress and transformation. Bear in mind the significant ramifications of the Bantu Education Act and other race-based policies. These left countless South Africans without foundational skills.
Its menacing shadow still lingers large over South Africa. Legacies of this act include skills gaps, education inequalities, unemployment, poverty and political instability. ABET directly or indirectly addresses all of these social ills. Yet, it has been largely neglected by government, to date. The once robust system that proudly fought for equality in education in the country is but a shadow of its former self.
Providing ABET to millions
The private sector cannot shoulder the responsibility of providing ABET to the millions of illiterate South Africans alone. Thus, government needs to address the failings of its ABET programmes. Even the Department of Higher Education and Training [Department of Higher Education and Training (dhet.gov.za)] notes that ABET needs to be prioritised. It recently tasked the Community Education and Training (CET) colleges with setting targets for reducing illiteracy by providing quality ABET programmes. The DHET will also resource these centres with training materials.
This is in line with the requirements of the National Development Plan 2030 and the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training. They note that CET colleges need to have a clear identity and purpose. Part of their mandate should include offering a variety of courses. These range from ABET to secondary and second-chance matric programmes. They are targeted at youth and adults who have failed Grade 12 or for those who want to improve their matric results.
Refer to the DHET’s most recent fact sheet on adult illiteracy in the country, https://www.dhet.gov.za/Planning%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation%20Coordination/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Adult%20Illiteracy%20in%20South%20Africa%20-%20March%202023.pdf. Also reference National Development Plan 2030: Our future – make it work (www.gov.za)] and White Paper.indd (dhet.gov.za).
This strategy is commendable and a step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen if there is, indeed, political will to resuscitate government’s ailing ABET system. Many well-intended initiatives have failed in the past due to disorganisation, underfinancing and corruption. This has been at the expense of the many South Africans who have not completed their education for various reason, including poverty.
Notably, very little has also been done to address our failing basic education system, which is also fuelling high adult illiteracy in the country. Initiatives mooted by government have suffered a similar fate to those geared at improving access to ABET.
Government ABET programmes
Government ABET programmes are characterised by high levels of absenteeism. The progression rate through the various ABET levels is, therefore, also low. In some instances, learners find the courses too easy. They are, thus, not stimulated by or do not see the relevance of the training. In other instances, learners find the course content too difficult, discouraging learners from completing ABET.
Teacher and facilitator absenteeism and turnover are also a problem in these ABET programmes. This is disruptive and detracts from the overall learning experience. Classes can be postponed for extended periods until replacement teachers and facilitators have been found. By this time, many learners have become despondent or lost interest in completing ABET.
Training centres are also inconveniently located, restricting greater participation in these programmes. Individuals may not be able to afford the costs of transportation over long distances to and from classes. In some instances, training venues are changed without sufficient notice given to learners. They, therefore, miss classes and fall behind.
Many of the training venues are also not suitable environments for learning and teaching.
Moreover, the training provided by state is not flexible. Classes are usually held during working hours when employed individuals are unable to attend.
Learners of different ABET levels are also often combined in classes. It is understandable that this can be demotivating for learners at lower ABET levels.
Learner support in these programmes is also often lacking. Completing ABET is a serious commitment for many adults who are also working and taking care of their families. They need backing from their facilitators when they are struggling to keep up with their academic commitments.
It is no wonder then that these programmes also struggle to attract learners, despite high illiteracy levels in the country. Word of mouth travels quickly.
Private sector ABET programmes
Private sector ABET programmes continue to set the benchmark in adult literacy and numeracy training. Companies are incentivised to upskill their low and semi-skilled employees and members of communities that reside within their operational footprints. They, therefore, partner experts in the field with solid track records providing quality ABET. In this way, they are reassured that their ABET programmes will have the intended impact. By upskilling unskilled and semi-skilled employees and uplifting poor communities, ABET contributes points towards broad-based black economic empowerment scorecards. The provision of ABET is also a critical requirement for the awarding of mining rights to companies.
These companies assess the skills of ABET candidates prior to training to determine their literacy and numeracy skills. They are then able to place learners at the correct ABET level. This ensures that learners are able to cope with and are stimulated by the course content. Motivated learners will naturally progress through the various ABET levels quickly and efficiently. This is one of the important measures of the overall quality of ABET provided by these companies. A reputable ABET training provider will, therefore, boast a high learner pass rate.
They also undertake an awareness campaign before the training. During these sessions, the relevance of the training is explained to learners so that they are motivated to want to succeed in their academic pursuits. Moreover, professional facilitators provide the necessary support to learners throughout the ABET programme. They respect learners’ time and are, thus, always punctual and only take leave when it is absolutely necessary. As skilled and experienced facilitators, they know how to get the best out of their learners. They understand what motivates adults to want to learn and, therefore, how they need to be taught.
ABET is always relevant
Whether geared at unskilled or semi-skilled employees or community members, the ABET is always relevant. Significant focus is placed on imparting workplace literacy skills that will enable the employed to excel in their jobs. In this way, they are able to grow and develop in their careers and as individuals. Meanwhile, community members learn skills that will help them to secure employment in a modern economy. Literacy and numeracy are also skills that individuals use outside the workplace in just about every facet of life. Equipped with these skills, they are, therefore, able to improve their own wellbeing and that of their communities. They also use these skills to make a meaningful contribution to society at large.
With a large national footprint, these training providers are able to undertake ABET on site, no matter how remote the location. For community training, they work closely with all relevant stakeholders to select a convenient training location for learners. They also ensure that it is suitable for training purposes. In addition, they consult with community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure large participation in their clients’ community ABET initiatives.
Because these training providers are flexible, they are also able to cater to the production schedules of their clients.
Quality ABET to all
Quality ABET should be available to all who need it as opposed to only a select few. What about members of communities that reside outside the operational footprints of companies? Meanwhile, there are many companies that do not provide ABET to their unskilled and semi-skilled employees. How do these individuals improve their prospects in life without a decent education?
The unfortunate reality is that many South Africans can barely write their names or surnames. These are mainly rural women who have managed to get by without literacy skills for many years. However, their illiteracy is a major disadvantage in life. It stifles their ability to provide care to ill family members and make informed choices regarding their own health and hygiene, for example. Without literacy skills, they also struggle to secure government pensions. They also lack the skills that they need to participate meaningfully in our political system.
It is incorrect to assume that these adults are too old to learn. Therefore, most of the emphasis should be on educating children for the future. This view fails to take into consideration the systematic deprivation of adults in the past. It also overlooks the role that a democratic government needs to play in correcting the wrongs of the past. This, alone, should be enough motivation for government to focus more on developing a robust ABET system.
ABET improves livelihoods
ABET improves livelihoods in many ways, a benefit that is also acknowledged by the South African constitution.
There is ample evidence that ABET develops the confidence of learners and the skills that they need to be active participants in their communities. Equipped with literacy skills, adults can read to their children and help them with their academics. This helps to break the cycle of illiteracy in these communities where education is often undervalued or not at all. There is also a strong correlation between literacy and improved nutrition and health. Meanwhile, research shows that women with at least a basic education provide better care for their children than their less learned counterparts. This includes sending them to school. These women are also more likely to manage the size of their families.
ABET strengthens democracy
ABET strengthens our democracy, considering its strong link to civic literacy. This is the skill that people need to understand the political process, including the importance of voting and how to do so. People with these skills also understand local government services and how to access them to improve their livelihoods. These services include pensions, as well as child support and disability grants. Unfortunately, there are still many South Africans who do not understand what the change from the previous to the new democratic system actually means to them. This is because they cannot access information or relate to the world around them without foundational skills, a significant stain on our democracy.
ABET and sustainable livelihoods
There is also a close connection between ABET and people’s ability to develop sustainable livelihoods. This is especially the case when ABET is incorporated into community development projects.
A case in point is the community development projects undertaken by the mining industry. They also have a strong human resource development and training component. ABET is an important part of the human resources development focus of social-labour plans, the basis upon which mining rights are awarded. Incorporating ABET into the programmes, teaches people how to budget, cost and price; develop a CV; bank; apply for employment; and keep records.
Triple E Training continues to establish the benchmark in ABET for upskilling employees and uplifting communities.
Together with our clients, we are making an impact on the lives of many South Africans. Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality adult literacy and numeracy training programmes. www.eee.co.za
