ABET will remain an important means of growing the South African economy. This is by equipping the many functionally illiterate South African citizens with the skills that they need to be productive citizens.
A new report by the World Literacy Foundation (WLF) [https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/] notes the high economic costs of illiteracy. It estimates that the global cost of illiteracy is about US$1,19 trillion every year. Meanwhile, it costs a developed economy, such as South Africa, about 1,2% of its gross-domestic product (GDP) annually.
There are more than 4,4 million illiterate adults in the country, the majority of whom 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. This situation is being exacerbated by a failing basic education system. About 67 million children do not have access to primary school education and an additional 72 million are unable to complete secondary schooling.
In South Africa, two out of 10 learners drop out of school after Grade 3. Four out of 10 drop out of school after Grade six and six out of 10 after Grade 10. 7,3 learners drop out of school after Grade 11. It means that less than a quarter of learners who begin Grade 1 complete Grade 12. This is according to https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297722032_Critical_Challenges_Of_The_South_African_School_System. Interestingly, 60% of all students who complete their matric with a university exemption attended 10% of South Africa’s 7 000 secondary schools. These included independent and Model C schools. 20% of such students attended historically disadvantaged schools. Meanwhile, the remaining 20% who qualified for university entrance attended other types of South African schools.
ABET is the solution
ABET is part of the solution by providing adults with the opportunity to complete their schooling and acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills. Refer to https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/Documents/Policies/GET/PolicyDocumentABET.pdf?ver=2007-08-22-081525-000 for more reading on ABET.
Of particular concern is the quality of literacy training at school level. The 2030 Reading Panel Report again shines a spotlight on the dismal state of literacy education in South Africa. This is also compounding the problem. Refer to embargoed_2023_reading_panel_background_report_7_feb_2023.pdf (groundup.org.za). It says that it will take more than 80 years from now until all Grade 4 children can read for meaning. Researchers from the University of Pretoria [UP | University of Pretoria] note that decades have been lost in literacy educational outcomes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This on the back of the very poor performance by our schools in terms of literacy education long before the outbreak of the disease. According to the report, about 60% of children have not learned most of the letters of alphabet by the end of Grade 1. By the end of Grade 2, more than 30% of students still do not know all the letters of the alphabet. This means that many school learners are “perpetually behind and in ‘catch-up’ mode, although they never do so”, according to the report.
Literacy is a foundational skill that facilitates learning. Therefore, more individuals will drop out of school because they have fallen behind and cannot cope with education. In other instances, they will complete their schooling with the absolute bare minimum in terms of literacy and other important skills. Placement assessments, which analyse the literacy and numeracy skills of employees before placing them in ABET programmes, have corroborated this. Therefore, many companies use ABET to bridge the divide between a matric and the literacy skills that are actually needed in the workplace.
ABET imparts foundational skills
ABET imparts the foundational skills that employees need to perform at their peak.
Illiteracy costs companies significantly. Time and resources are spent addressing incorrect orders or processing refunds. Misunderstandings due to poor communication also result in lost customers and internal problems. This is not to mention the cost and difficulty associated with finding skilled staff.
The WLF reports that about 70% of respondents to a survey said that their companies achieved savings when they invested in adult literacy training. This is the primary reason that so many companies continue to invest in ABET. Employees who have sound literacy skills understand workplace rules and procedures. They are able to complete forms, contracts or time sheets correctly.
Moreover, they can write reports and follow instructions. They also have the confidence that they need to interact meaningfully with other team members and their higher-ups in English. Moreover, they can read notices, instructions, timetables and job sheets; take orders; and handle cash. They can also count and record stock and participate meaningfully in team meetings. Importantly, employees can think critically and logically which enables them to find solutions to workplace problems and make sound decisions.
ABET helps develop technology skills
ABET also helps to develop the future technology skills capacity that countries need to effectively compete at a global level.
Previously, literacy only referred to the ability to read, write and calculate numbers. However, this is no longer the case. It also refers to the ability to create, edit and read many documents on an electronic device, such as a PC, laptop, mobile phone or tablet. This is a skill that is required by most – if not all – companies.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [https://www.unesco.org/en], education improves understanding of new technologies. This is in addition to facilitating their diffusion and implementation. These, in turn, also promote economic growth. Therefore, individuals who have advanced functional literacy skills are considered valuable human capital.
According to some experts, almost 80% of South African citizens are not digitally literate. This is considering that they do not know how to use digital resources as a tool to unlock economic potential.
Certainly, the lack of digital literacy skills will also impede South Africa’s ability to undergo the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
ABET imparts maths skills
ABET imparts maths skills which are key to improving a country’s productivity and competitiveness. This is considering that proficiency in maths implies a high level of cognitive skills among the labour force. Individuals with these skills are, therefore, able to make a substantial contribution towards technological innovation and productivity gains.
South Africa struggles to develop a robust pipeline of mathematics and science skills to grow its economy. This is evidenced by our continued underperformance in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Refer to [TIMSS | IEA.nl]. The more recent study was undertaken in 2019. Refer to https://www.timss-sa.org/ for more reading on South Africa’s participation in this assessment.
South African students scored an average of 374 for mathematics and 324 for science in the Grade 4 2019 TIMSS. This is well below the 400 “basic” threshold. Just more that 37% of South African learners demonstrated that they had acquired basic mathematical knowledge. Meanwhile, only 28% had acquired basic science knowledge.
Grade 8 learners also performed poorly in TIMSS 2019. They scored 389 for mathematics and 370 for science. Only 41% of learners demonstrated that they had acquired basic mathematical knowledge. Meanwhile, just 36% had gained fundamental science skills.
ABET helps to improve earnings
ABET helps to improve earnings of workers. This is especially important in a country such as South Africa where large disparities in wages are contributing to rising inequality. 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. The situation is as a result of a glut of unskilled and semi-skilled labour and a dire shortage of knowledge workers.
Throughout the world, illiterate people earn between 30% and 42% less than their literate counterparts. Moreover, they are unable to learn more skills that will enable them to earn more so that they can improve their circumstances.
The WLF notes that the income of people with poor literacy skills will remain the same throughout their working life. This is compared to individuals with good literacy and numeracy skills. They can expect to earn double or triple to what they were earning when they started working. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/798731523331698204-0010022018/original/SouthAfricaEconomicUpdateApril2018.pdf says that, in South Africa, skilled workers earn five times more than their unskilled counterparts.
Meanwhile, individuals who do not complete primary schooling are less likely to work in jobs that will enable them to avoid poverty. Worryingly, their source of livelihoods is also compromised as industries continue to automate and mechanise. At the same time, South Africa’s economy is increasingly becoming services based and, therefore, reliant upon knowledge workers. Less employment opportunities for general and mundane work are being created in traditional sectors. These include mining, construction, manufacturing and agriculture which were traditionally large employers of unskilled and semi-skilled labour.
According to the World Bank report, the share of inequality by education and employment in South Africa grew between 2006 and 2015. It has even eclipsed race which is a historically important factor in explaining inequality in the country. This is considering South Africa’s past which also played a large role in the high illiteracy levels with which we grapple today.
ABET imparts financial literacy skills
ABET imparts financial literacy skills that people need to build wealth and, in turn, grow vibrant markets for goods and services.
Literate people can establish a personal financial plan and evaluate financial investments to provide themselves with a retirement income. They also understand how to use equity or investment loans to acquire and manage income-producing assets.
Employees who are not financially literate also cost their companies. They waste company time dealing with their financial woes. Money problems also result in stress that causes distractions and absenteeism. Companies may also have to spend time on processing advances on paycheques for “emergencies”. In extenuating circumstances, financial illiteracy can even lead to theft and violence in the workplace.
ABET helps address social ills
ABET helps to address social ills that arise from illiteracy. Many of these are also a severe drain on a country’s economy and government resources. These include crime and poor health and hygiene, among others.
According to the 2015 Global Peace Index, the national cost of violence is 19% of our GDP. This was the 16th highest rate in the world at the time. Total violence containment spending in the country amounted to about R1,84 trillion or about R34 160 per person then. Violent crime has since been on the increase. Refer to Global Peace Index (2021) — ConnexUs (cnxus.org) and https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/665791/violent-crime-in-south-africa-is-getting-worse-here-are-all-the-latest-stats/#:~:text=At%20the%20release%20of%20the,offences%20(45.6%25)%20also%20increased for more reading.
Meanwhile, in the 2019/2020 fiscal year, provincial government spent R206,6 billion on healthcare, alone. Refer to https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=14755.
In a country with such a high illiteracy rate, it is, thus, not surprising that about 30 million South Africans are currently welfare recipients. Of this, 11 million citizens of the country receive a R340 monthly grant. It was introduced for citizens who had lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, government spends 3,3% of GDP on welfare, alone. While it is commendable that government continues to support the country’s most vulnerable, this is not sustainable. A long-term solution lies in upskilling and job creation.
A leading ABET provider
Triple E Training is a leading ABET provider to industry.
The company’s enterprising clients mainly invest in ABET because it equips their employees with the workplace literacy skills that they need to perform at their peak. This is over-and-above the substantial contribution that adult literacy and numeracy training also makes towards companies’ Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment scorecards. While this is an important consideration, it is certainly not the only reason that companies should continue to invest in ABET.
Companies that do so are simply box ticking – “training for just the sake of it”. Rather, ABET should be viewed as a critical part of skills development and training programmes and its effects on business performance measured. Another important consideration is the role that it plays in the growth of the economy and the development of society at large. Learn how you can also harness our extensive skills and experience to upskill your staff. www.eee.co.za
