Our ABET sets your employees on a path towards attaining a qualification at NQF Level 4. Quality ABET equips employees with foundational skills so that they can continue learning. Many employees who have completed our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training have already attained or are working towards achieving a NQF Level 4 qualification. This is very important to us. We measure the success of our ABET programmes on their ability to instil a passion and respect for learning among participants. Employees who have completed our ABET want to and, importantly, can continue learning. They are referred to as “lifelong learners”. This is because they enjoy acquiring new skills and professional capabilities beyond their formal education. Moreover, they seek opportunities to expand their knowledge by studying new topics. They also have an open mind about new processes.
Lifelong learning is considered an economic imperative. This is in addition to being the only sustainable competitive advantage in an apparently unpredictable global economy. Enterprising companies, therefore, encourage lifelong learning. For your low skilled employees, the journey starts with adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. Lifelong learning enables employees to achieve their full potential. Employees are, therefore, more productive, efficient and accurate workers. They are also more satisfied and engaged when they are given an opportunity to grow and develop their careers and as individuals. This has a further positive impact on both productivity and quality. Moreover, satisfied employees are loyal. This improves staff retention. Meanwhile, companies that have reputations for developing team members also easily attract more talent.
https://www.uil.unesco.org/en/unesco-institute/mandate/lifelong-learning provides a definition of lifelong learning by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. Note that there are five essential areas to its definition of lifelong learning. They include all age groups; levels of education; and learning modalities, spheres and spaces; as well as a variety of purposes.
NQF Level 4 and matric
NQF Level 4 is a matric qualification. Employees who have completed ABET Level 4 will be able to cope with NQF Level 4 training. ABET Level 4 is equivalent to a Grade 9 school education. It is, therefore, at a NQF Level 1. Thus, employees who have completed our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training are functionally literate. This means that they can apply their basic English literacy and numeracy skills in all facets of life, including to learn to acquire more knowledge.
Literacy and numeracy skills are the foundations of lifelong learning. These skills are applied across all areas of learning. They empower people to make meaning, as well as think critically and creatively.
Literacy is the ability to understand, critically analyse a variety and create different forms of communication to accomplish specific outcomes. The different forms of communication include oral, written, visual, digital and multimedia. Students apply their literacy skills across a variety of subject areas. https://gaml.uis.unesco.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/12/4.6.1_07_4.6-defining-literacy.pdf provides a more comprehensive definition of literacy.
Meanwhile, numeracy is the ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts, processes and skills. This is to solve problems and make informed decisions in a variety of situations in life.
Notably, UNESCO provides definitions of adult literacy and numeracy for the Sustainable Development Goal 4.6.1. Refer to https://gaml.uis.unesco.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/GAML6-WD-4-Definitions-of-adult-functional-literacy-and-numeracy-for-SDG-indcator-4.6.1-1.pdf for more reading on this interesting topic. Indicator 4.6.1 refers specifically to the proportion of a country’s population in a given age group that has achieved at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional literacy and numeracy skills.
NQF Level 4 is important
NQF Level 4 is important. Employees who have attained an ABET Level 4 certificate should, therefore, be encouraged to complete matric by their employers. It is the next logical step after adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. Depending on their performance in Grade 12, your employees will be able to access a variety of further learning opportunities. These include admission to learnerships, colleges, universities and other higher education institutions. It also provides access to entry-level employment prospects that require higher skills levels. A National Senior Certificate is the absolute basic level of education that individuals need to access professional careers. These are more secure and better-paid jobs than those that they perform as low skilled workers. Low skilled work also provides very little – if any – opportunity for career and individual growth and development.
Irrespective of whether your employees want to study further, ABET Level 4 imparts skills that they need to perform their duties at an optimal level. Employees who have completed our adult literacy training are effective communicators in both the written and spoken word. They are also able to read with understanding and are active listeners. Employees who have completed our adult numeracy training can think logically and critically. They are, therefore, able to solve typical problems that they will encounter in the workplace with minimal assistance.
Notably, 85% of job success is derived from having well-developed soft skills. Only 15% of job success comes from hard skills. This is according to research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Standford Research Center. Soft skills include, among others, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. Skills Development (worldbank.org) provides more reading on 21st century skills. Note the emphasis on cognitive skills. These include foundational literacy and numeracy, as well as creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Alternative paths to NQF Level 4
There are also alternative paths that lead to a NQF Level 4 qualification that are available to your employees after they have completed ABET. Many employees who have completed our adult literacy training and adult numeracy training enrol for National Certificate (Vocational) Courses. By the time that they have completed NCV Level 4, they have a qualification that is equivalent to that of a matric.
Other employees prefer to first complete our foundational learning competence training. This better prepares them for occupational training at a NQF Level 2. Foundational learning competence imparts the English literacy skills that your employees need to understand the practical and theoretical components of the course content. They are also able to write their trade tests in the formal language of learning. The numeracy component of foundational learning competence training equips your employees with basic maths skills. These are especially relevant to the technical trades. Some examples of these type of NCV courses include civil engineering; electrical infrastructure construction; engineering and related design; and primary agriculture.
Dropping out before NQF Level 4
Worryingly, many South Africans are dropping out of school before completing education at a NQF Level 4. The high dropout rate in the country motivates continued focus on ABET in the country. Both public and private sector driven ABET programmes are important. Adult literacy training and adult numeracy training are the only means available for these individuals to acquire basic skills. They need these skills to function properly in just about every facet of life.
In 2021, almost 3% of South Africans aged 15 and nearly 9% of 17-year-olds left school prematurely. Refer to https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=15520#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20close%20to%203,olds%20dropped%20out%20of%20school for more reading on the topic. Among the main reasons for non-attendance of school in 2021 included illness and disability; poor academic performance; and an inability to pay school fees. Quality of schooling especially in poor and rural areas of the country is also a contributor to the dire situation. For more information on this topic, refer to https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/02/south-africa-broken-and-unequal-education-perpetuating-poverty-and-inequality/.
Attain NQF Level 4
We are, therefore, very proud of the many employees who have gone on to attain a qualification at NQF Level 4 after completing our ABET. These were employees who did not have even the most basic skills when they started their learning journey. Some even disregarded education due to past experiences. They are now proud “lifelong learners”, who continue to add immense value to their companies. Discover how we are able to help you also prepare your employees for a journey of lifelong learning through quality adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. www.eee.co.za.
