AET has a positive impact on society at large. Certainly, the many benefits of quality adult literacy and numeracy training are not only confined to the workplace. After working hours, employees take their newfound English literacy and numeracy skills back to their families and communities. For this reason, AET remains such an important driver of transformation and a major focus point for government. For more information on government’s stance on AET, refer to https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/2003educationpolicydocumentabet0.pdf.
Private sector driven AET
Private sector driven AET is an important pillar of this strategy. Companies provide adult literacy and numeracy training to their low skilled employees. They also focus on enhancing the English literacy and numeracy skills of unemployed South Africans living in poor areas of the country. This training is provided by reputable AET providers that are contracted by these companies. Responsible companies know that they have to help government raise literacy and numeracy levels in the country. This is an extensive undertaking. Although we have made commendable progress in improving literacy levels in the country thus far, there is still a lot that needs to be done to adequately address education poverty in the country.
This work is being undermined by the rapidly deteriorating quality of basic education in the country. It contributes to a high school dropout rate which is depriving many South Africans from acquiring English literacy and numeracy skills. Many individuals who complete their schooling have poor numeracy and reading comprehension skills. This is despite them being in possession of a National Senior Certificate. AET remains an important bridge between the literacy and numeracy skills taught at school and those actually required in the workplace.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/02/south-africa-broken-and-unequal-education-perpetuating-poverty-and-inequality/ provides more reading on the state of South Africa’s education system. The research reaffirms the important role that AET will continue to play in the country. This incudes as a type of human capital by improving the performance of low skilled employees in the workplace.
AET uplifts
AET uplifts individuals. This is because literacy and numeracy skills lift people out of poverty. They are the absolute basic skills that people need to secure and retain employment in a modern economy. For this reason, companies continue to invest in AET as a means of improving the performance of their low skilled employees. Equipped with English literacy and numeracy skills, employees are able to perform at optimal levels. They are also able to manage the demands of their jobs in a productive, healthy and safe way. Importantly, English literacy and numeracy are basic skills that your employees need to continue learning. In this way, they are able to constantly improve their earning potential and ability to support their families.
According to research, 171-million fewer people would live in poverty if all children throughout the world were taught how to read. This is equivalent to the combined population of the UK, Spain and Italy. AET is especially relevant in South Africa where about 30,4-million people live below the old upper-bound poverty line of R1 268. Meanwhile, 13,8-million South African citizens are living below the food poverty line. The majority of these people do not have the basic English literacy and numeracy skills that they need to meaningfully participate in the South African economy. They are, therefore, trapped in poverty.
AET helps to develop economies
AET also helps to develop and grow economies by imparting literacy and numeracy skills. Microeconomic and macroeconomic estimates suggest that with a more typical level of school performance, South Africa’s GDP would be 23% to 30% higher. This is according to research undertaken by the University of Stellenbosch. For more information on this study, refer to Title here (sun.ac.za). It is estimated that society recoups USD7,14 for every USD1 invested into adult literacy and numeracy training. People can earn up to 10% more for every additional year of schooling that they have completed. The fact is that no country has been able to achieve continuous and rapid economic growth without at least 40% of the adult population being able to read or write.
Worryingly, South Africa’s illiteracy rate is not far behind the global average of 14%. More than 4-million South African adults do not have literacy and numeracy skills. Notably, two thirds of this group are younger than 60 and about a third are below the age of 50. This means that they are of working age and, therefore, need to be empowered to participate fully in society.
Fact Sheet – Adult Illiteracy in South Africa[2].pdf (dhet.gov.za) provides further reading on the topic and the extent of the illiteracy challenge that the country is facing. Combined with the high cost of doing business and lack of competition in markets, skills shortages have contributed to South Africa’s low productivity levels and inability to compete at a global level. Jobs-strategy-SA-EN.pdf (oecd.org) provides a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of South Africa’s labour market. Notably, measures used for this study include job quantity and quality, as well as labour market inclusiveness. This is opposed to only using unemployment and employment rates as measurables.
AET facilitates social cohesion
AET also facilitates social cohesion. People who have literacy and numeracy skills are able to participate meaningfully in society. They are able to follow politics and make informed decisions based on credible information that is disseminated by the media. Research has shown a strong correlation between literacy and numeracy and participation in community action, politics and trade unions. People with literacy and numeracy skills are also more likely to vote and, thus, strengthen democratic systems.
This is considering that they understand democratic principles and are deriving maximum benefit from such a system because they have literacy and numeracy skills. They gain this understanding from political information that is communicated in the written and spoken word. Research undertaken in the United States, the largest democracy in the world, has shown that individuals who have completed adult literacy and numeracy training are more likely than non-participants to register to vote.
AET helps build healthier nations
Moreover, AET helps to build healthier nations. Research has shown that individuals with adequate literacy and numeracy skills receive more preventative care. This is compared to those individuals who do not possess English literacy and numeracy knowledge. Literate people also have more control of their chronic illnesses. Moreover, they are hospitalised less than patients who do not have sound literacy and numeracy skills. Countries that have large literate populations also have lower early mortality rates. For example, in Japan where the literacy rate is the highest in the world, the early mortality rate has been reduced by more than half. This is mainly because Japanese women can read with understanding and are active listeners.
They are, therefore, able to better access and understand health-related information. This helps them to make informed choices that enable them to take better care of themselves and their children. This ability is also referred to as health literacy. Health literacy is defined as “the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services that are needed to make appropriate health-care decisions”. The importance of health literacy was highlighted during COVID-19. It is also critically important in a country with a high HIV/Aids prevalence rate. Being able to access credible information will help prevent infection and spread of the disease.
AET improves wellbeing
In these many ways, AET improves the wellbeing of a population. Research undertaken in the UK, for example, notes that more than 70% of people who have literacy and numeracy skills live happier lives. This is compared to only 50% of illiterate people who are pleased with their circumstances.
Notably, people who value education will pass this respect for learning onto their children to also improve the wellbeing of the next generation. Equipped with literacy and numeracy skills, they are also able to read to their children and help them with their academics. In this way, adult literacy and numeracy training helps to break the cycle of illiteracy in families and communities. Bear in mind that illiteracy is passed on from one generation to the next by family members who are unaware of or deliberately neglect their children’s developmental needs.
Triple E Training is a leading provider of AET to industry. For more than 30 years, we have helped many thousands of low skilled employees to acquire English literacy and numeracy skills. Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality AET programmes that are having a large positive impact on the workplace, economy and society at large. www.eee.co.za.
