Your employees have completed ABET Level 2 and are now able to progress to ABET Level 3. Workers who have accomplished ABET Level 2 have English literacy and numeracy skills that are equivalent to those of someone who has passed Grade 5. This is a significant feat considering that employees may have had to start their learning journey at ABET Level 1 or even pre-ABET. The reason for this is that their English literacy and basic maths skills were of a very low standard. In some instances, they were almost non-existent.
The reality is that there are many South Africans who are in this serious predicament. It is a stubborn legacy of the past that excluded citizens from accessing a basic education. The condition is being exacerbated by a crumbling basic education system and abject poverty. This is especially the case in the rural areas. Many South African citizens migrate from these areas to towns and cities to find low paying unskilled or semi-skilled work in a myriad of different industries. Refer to https://www.dhet.gov.za/Planning%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation%20Coordination/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Adult%20illiteracy%20in%20South%20Africa_March%202022.pdf for a better understanding of the real extent of the illiteracy challenge in the country.
Completing ABET Level 2
Completing ABET Level 2 is, therefore, a commendable achievement for your employees. They have already made a solid attempt at gaining the skills that they need to succeed in a modern economy. They will also use their English literacy and basic maths skills in other facets of life when they end their shifts. This includes at home when they spend time with their families, as well as in their communities and South African society at large. The benefits of proper adult literacy training and adult numeracy training are far reaching.
They are not confined to the workplace. ABET is an investment into the growth of the South African economy and the future success of the country. Many of its unique socio-economic challenges are as a direct result of low skills levels. This excludes people from participating in a modern economy or traps people in low paying jobs with little prospect for growth and development. This is fuelling growing inequality. South Africa is currently the most unequal country in the world. “Race” plays a key role in a society where 10% of the population owns more than 80% of the wealth. For more reading on this topic, refer to https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/03/09/new-world-bank-report-assesses-sources-of-inequality-in-five-countries-in-southern-africa.
After ABET Level 2
However, there is still a lot of work that lies ahead after ABET Level 2. It is, therefore, important that your employees remain motivated to want to succeed and focused on the end goal. This is to claim their ABET Level 4 certificate through sheer hard work and determination. By this time, your employees’ English literacy and basic maths skills levels will be equivalent to that of someone who has completed Grade 9. These skills are sufficient for most general and entry level jobs. However, many employees who have participated in adult literacy training and adult numeracy training will want to complete adult matric. Other workers may want to pursue different skills paths that also lead to a qualification at a National Qualification Framework Level 4. A successful ABET programme helps to instil a culture of lifelong learning in the workplace. This should be the ultimate measure of the success of your adult literacy training and adult numeracy training programmes. Government clearly outlines this fundamental objective in its ABET policy document. It is also applicable to private sector ABET initiatives.
Refer to https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/DoE%20Branches/Social%20and%20School%20Enrichment/Adult_Education_and_Training/Policy%20document%20on%20Adult%20Basic%20Education%20and%20Training.pdf?ver=2008-06-30-140528-830. In fact, many would agree that the private sector has become the custodian of ABET over the years. Many individuals have learnt to communicate in English and how to do basic maths through private driven ABET. Moreover, the training provided by these companies has kept pace with ever-changing literacy and numeracy skills demands of industry.
Start at ABET Level 2
Certainly, it is possible that some employees will be able to start at ABET Level 2 or higher phases of adult literacy and numeracy training. This is if their basic maths and English literacy levels enable them to do so.
A placement assessment determines at which level your employees need to start the adult literacy training and adult numeracy training programme. It assesses your employees’ existing English literacy and numeracy skills levels. Ideally, employees should be able to transition seamlessly into the adult literacy and numeracy training programme. This is based on their previous educational background. Placing employees at the correct ABET level ensures that they will be able to cope with the course content. They will, therefore, progress through the various ABET levels within a reasonable timeframe. Employees who are overwhelmed by the training because they are not ready for a specific ABET level will not succeed in completing the course.
Certainly, they also need to be stimulated by the training by being given a sound opportunity to enhance or hone existing or acquire new skills. If employees find the course too easy or irrelevant, they will not take their training seriously. Therefore, the chance of them completing ABET in these circumstances is very slim. Certainly, employers also want to ensure that their employees are being given a sound opportunity to enhance their proficiencies. This is opposed to regressing, which is also a significant waste of time, money and resources. Real ABET is an investment and its return can be measured. This is through improvements in productivity, efficiency, accuracy and safety in the workplace. There are also many indirect benefits of quality ABET that can be appraised that are so often overlooked. For example, employees who are given an opportunity to grow and develop are more loyal, motivated and engaged.
ABET Level 2 develops literacy skills
ABET Level 2 develops the literacy and basic maths skills that employees acquired during ABET Level 1. These are still the very early phases of adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. Your employees are only starting to acquire workplace literacy skills. Workplace literacy is also referred to as functional literacy and numeracy. Refer to https://gaml.uis.unesco.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/08/gaml4-functional-literacy-numeracy.pdf for a definition of functional literacy and numeracy.
Functional illiteracy impedes workers’ ability to perform at their peak. This is the real reason so many companies invest in quality adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. Their adult literacy training and adult numeracy training programmes are not just geared at “ticking legislative boxes” to improve scorecards. Companies that take ABET seriously also make sure that they partner a reputable ABET provider. They know that a skilled and experienced training provider can ensure a high pass rate. This is through the provision of quality training, placement assessments and awareness campaigns. The latter prepares employees for ABET. This is by explaining the benefits of completing the training and the importance of basic maths and English literacy skills in all facets of life. Employees who understand the applicability of ABET are more motivated to succeed. This is no matter how fraught with challenges the learning journey ahead will be.
Abet Level 2 learners
During these very early phases, ABET Level 2 learners will be taught how to read brief texts on familiar topics. They will also learn how to identify a single piece of specific information in writing. This adult literacy training also imparts an understanding of basic vocabulary that your employees will need to understand the structure of sentences of paragraphs. Once they have completed this level, they will, therefore, be able to read relatively short digital or print texts for meaning.
At the same time, your employees will also start learning basic maths skills by attending adult numeracy training. English literacy and basic maths skills are complementary. Employees need both to perform at optimal levels.
ABET Level 2 basic maths
Employees who have completed ABET Level 2 possess very basic maths skills. They are still being developed in the same way that their English literacy skills are through the adult literacy training component of ABET.
In these tentative stages, employees learn how to rely on concrete representations of numbers. They are also taught how to consistently apply the 1-1 principle of matching one number word to each object. Moreover, workers gain an understanding of the numerical value of a collection by counting and labelling it. Employees are also taught the forward number sequence and how to count to more than 10. In these early stages of adult numeracy training, workers are also taught how to rely on the strategy of counting by ones.
When they do so, they always start at one. Typically, they will also count from one when determining the number before or after a nominated number. Workers will also be taught how to confidently produce the forward or backward number sequence in the range of zero to 10. Furthermore, employees learn how to identify and name numerals from zero to 10 and beyond. Importantly, they also start developing the ability to recognise number patterns. During these early stages, workers also start to understand that numbers can be represented in various ways.
Employees at ABET Level 2
Employees at ABET Level 2 have already gained some proficiencies that should help them to perform better in the workplace.
When they have completed adult literacy training, they will be able to make matches between digital or printed text, as well as low-level inferences. Therefore, employees who have completed all four adult literacy training levels are effective communicators. This is relevant to both the written and spoken word. Importantly, they are also active listeners. Efficient communication in the workplace eliminates misunderstandings that lead to mistakes that result in waste and downtime. In extenuating circumstances, they can even lead to accidents, including loss-time injuries and fatalities.
Having completed adult numeracy training, your employees will be able to count collections which are totally or partially concealed. They will be able to find a total by counting by ones and starting from one. Moreover, they will understand numbers as entities and conservation of number. Your employees will also be able to represent numbers in a variety of ways by, among others, partitioning and combining. They will also be able to consistently produce the correct forward and backward number word sequences from 0 to 20 and beyond. Workers will also understand forward and backward number word sequences.
They will, therefore, be able produce the number before and after a nominated number. Moreover, they will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the numerical value of numbers by naming numerals and labelling collections of up to 20 items. Their understanding of basic maths facilitates accurate workmanship. Employees with numeracy skills are also able to think logically and critically. They are, therefore, able to solve problems and make sound decisions either individually or as part of high-performance teams.
ABET Level 2 through to 4
Triple E Training is a leading provider of ABET from Levels 1 and 2 through to 4. Our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training has equipped many thousands of employees with basic maths and English literacy skills.
Learn more about our quality adult literacy training and adult numeracy training solutions. www.eee.co.za
