The South African constitution frames several rights that cannot be denied to any South Africa, perhaps one of the most important of these rights is the right to an education. Without an education one is relegated to the fringes of society and doomed to a life of menial labour. Unfortunately this right has only been recognised as universal since South Africa became a democratic country. For decades before this most of the population received an education that was woefully inadequate. This has led to widespread illiteracy. Today ABET programs are rectifying the mistakes of the past and allowing the previously disenfranchised a new outlook.