Many of our unemployed youth need ABET or AET. Participating in adult literacy training and adult numeracy training will enable them to learn employable skills. This is so that they too can help grow our economy.
The significant role that youth play in economic development cannot be over-stated. Some contribute their knowledge and labour to companies as employees. Others possess entrepreneurial skills which grow and develop companies. This, in turn, creates jobs for more people.
If given the chance, many young adults can also become future leaders and innovators who develop new unique products, processes and services. For example, Mark Zuckerberg was only 19 years old when he launched Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/]. His innovation has changed the world for the better, improving aspects of society and how we do business.
The World Bank believes that Africa’s youth can be a major thrust behind the continent’s accelerated growth. Africans aged 15 to 24 are projected to grow in number to 500-million by 2080. The working age population of between 25 and 64 will only peak at about 1,5-billion people after 2100. However, to tap into this immense potential, these young adults need to be healthy, educated and skilled.
As the institution notes, Africa is struggling with a learning crisis. Millions of children are not attending school. Meanwhile, many of those who are completing basic education are falling behind in key learning indicators. These include reading, writing and basic maths. The percentage of 10-year-olds who are unable to understand a simple text is expected to be approaching 89%. Refer to Investing in youth, transforming Africa.
Many South African children struggle to read by the age of 10. Illiteracy among South African children rose from 78% in 2016 to 81% in 2021. Meanwhile, our learners continue to perform very poorly in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.
A rejuvenated focus on ABET
A rejuvenated focus on ABET or AET will enable South Africa to harness the potential of its youth. However, it is important that this adult literacy training and adult numeracy training is of a very high quality. The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training is the custodian of quality standards in the industry. Umalusi accredits private providers of education and training. Moreover, it certifies private assessment bodies to offer tuition and/or assessment for qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework. Refer to https://www.umalusi.org.za/services/accreditation/ and https://www.umalusi.org.za/docs/subframeworks/2014/GFETQSF_Policy.pdf.
Every year, we waste the potential of our youth. 36% of our population or 20-million citizens are under the age of 35, the prime of their lives. Yet, more than 30% of citizens between the ages of 15 and 24 are not in any form of employment, education or training (NEET). Meanwhile, 46% of 25- and 34-year-olds fall into this category. This means as many as 7,9-million young South Africans are NEET. They are, therefore, simply referred to as young “NEETs” in the country. Refer to https://data.oecd.org/youthinac/youth-not-in-employment-education-or-training-neet.htm for a more detailed description of this term.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa has one of the highest NEET rates in the world. However, a positive is that it declined in 2022 for the first time in eight years. The department notes that Community Education and Training colleges must enable NEETs to attain basic skills, reskill and upskill. Refer to Department of Higher Education and Training – CommunityCollege (dhet.gov.za). There is also a need to extend access to Post-School Education and Training System institutions. The education curriculum taught must be relevant and responsive to the social and economic needs of the country. Refer to PSET Information Policy, 2019.pdf (dhet.gov.za) and https://www.dhet.gov.za/Planning%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation%20Coordination/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20NEETs_%20March%202023.pdf.
Community ABET targets young NEETs
Quality community ABET or AET specifically targets young NEETs. Most community members who participate in private adult literacy training and adult numeracy training programmes are young functionally illiterate South Africans. Refer to https://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/functional-literacy for more reading on functional literacy.
These programmes are provided by companies as part of their corporate-social investment initiatives. Community ABET is also a strong component of mines’ social-labour plans, upon which authorities award mining rights. Refer to https://www.dmr.gov.za/Portals/0/social%20and%20labour%20plan_guideline.pdf. Notably, there has been a marked decline in the number of learners who have entered into these programmes over the years. This is an indicator of the efficacy of mines’ adult literacy training and adult numeracy training programmes over the years. Perhaps, this approach could be duplicated in other industries as a solution to high illiteracy in the country?
Notably, just under 50% of young South African NEETs have been unemployed for more than a year. 80,6% of this group are new entrants into the labour market. They have never worked before in their lives. About 41,4% of young NEETs have been trying to find work for at least three years.
There is a need to better identify young NEETs and understand their needs, especially those who are inactive. These are youth who are “disengaged” from the labour market. 44,3% are inactive because they have to provide care for their children. The other inactive group of young NEETs are pregnant or do not have money to pay for transport to find work. Some are too young to work or have chosen not to work for various reasons. They have lost all hope of ever finding a job that suits their skills or in the area in which they reside. Refer to https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=15407.
Access to ABET
There is a need to extend access to ABET or AET. This is considering the millions of NEETs who require adult literacy training and adult numeracy training. However, this will involve a concerted effort from both the private and public sector.
State-driven ABET or AET programmes have largely failed to achieve what they set out to do in 1994. Attempts to revive the system have constantly failed because of a lack of political will. The intended outcomes of adult literacy and numeracy training are clearly articulated in https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/2003educationpolicydocumentabet0.pdf.
The situation has placed most of the onus on companies to provide quality ABET or AET to unemployed, functionally illiterate members of communities. They can only do so much with available resources. Therefore, their efforts over the years have barely made an impact on high illiteracy in the country. There were still 4-million functionally illiterate South African adults in 2021. Refer to https://www.dhet.gov.za/Planning%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation%20Coordination/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Adult%20Illiteracy%20in%20South%20Africa%20-%20March%202023.pdf.
Aggravating the situation is the failure of legislative and policy instruments geared at our unemployed youth to implement their resolutions. These include the National Youth Policy and the Youth Employment Service. Refer to https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202103/nationalyouthpolicy.pdf and https://www.yes4youth.co.za/.
In 2022, 23,1% of young South African NEETs were concentrated in Gauteng. 20% and 13,2% lived in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, respectively. There has been a marked increase in the number of NEETs in all of the provinces of the country.
Participants in community ABET programmes
Many participants in private community ABET or AET programmes are living in adject poverty. By completing adult literacy training and adult numeracy training, they learn skills that they need to improve their chances of securing employment.
Notably, 58% of 15- to 24-year-old NEETs come from households that survive on R1 183 per person a month. The majority of youth NEETs – 56,9% – are black women, of which 52,6% reside in the rural areas. It is a sad reality that the face of South African employment is black women. This has also been highlighted in the National Human Development report that was released by the Human Sciences Research Council. Refer to https://hsrc.ac.za/news/economic-development/young-black-females-are-most-unemployed-in-sa/#:~:text=Johannesburg%20%E2%80%93%20The%20face%20of%20unemployment,an%20unemployment%20rate%20of%2039%25.
More than three-quarters of these income-poor young people are between the ages of 20 and 24. 98,1% of them have less than a matric or only hold a National Senior Certificate or its equivalent. However, this does not necessarily mean that they received a quality education. This is considering glaring inequalities in education in the country. Those most affected by this live in the townships, informal settlements and rural areas. Refer to https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/02/south-africa-broken-and-unequal-education-perpetuating-poverty-and-inequality/.
The dire situation carries a high economic and political cost. Currently, 17-million South Africans live on social grants from government. In 2017, alone, social welfare paid to citizens under the age of 35 increased by 11%. This trend has continued at this rate.
89% of learners who wrote 2019 exams are grant beneficiaries. Most of them were turning 18 that year.
This grant does not even cover the cost involved in finding a job. According to research by the University of Johannesburg, the average citizen spends more than R500 a month trying to secure employment. How do NEETs look for jobs if they are not earning an income yet?
ABET breaks back of illiteracy
ABET or AET breaks the back of illiteracy, which is also the root cause of many social ills that plague our society. By equipping people with basic employable skills, adult literacy training and adult numeracy training fight crime, for example.
Research has shown that the rise in the South African crime rate is connected to increasing unemployment in the country. This is considering that the lack of access to satisfactory jobs creates poverty. In turn, poverty is linked to crime as people who do not have jobs will find alternative means of earning a livelihood. Many will turn to robbery, for example. The country experiences more than 150 000 incidences of robbery every year. Refer to https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3298339/v1/7ce113f2-0bae-4102-99bb-0e66387ccb12.pdf.
Drug use and alcohol abuse among unemployed youth is also a problem. Many young adults indulge in this practice to cope with their circumstances. Zwelenzima Vavi best explained the reason for high drug use and alcohol abuse among our youth. He said that “it is poverty and unemployment that leave young people with a feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness.” “They see no prospect of ever getting a decent job and enough income to a live a normal life. Thus, seeking oblivion through drugs and/or alcohol becomes a tempting escape route,” the General Secretary of COSATU said. Refer to https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286210329_Drug_Use_amongst_South_African_Youths_Reasons_and_Solutions/link/56972c9508aea2d74374b2c9/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19 and COSATU – Congress of South African Trade Unions.
Alcohol abuse and drug use also contribute to crime, including the violent type such as domestic Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Notably, GBV in South Africa is now five times the global average. Meanwhile, mental illness and suicide rates increase every year. Bear in mind unemployment’s contribution to stress, anxiety, depression and general illness. People at the lower end of the income spectrum are 1,5 to 3 times more likely to suffer from mental distress.
ABET geared at employees
ABET or AET is also geared at unskilled and low-skilled employees who are stagnating in low-wage jobs. Workplace adult literacy training and adult numeracy training provide them with an opportunity to grow and develop in their careers. This is by learning workplace literacy skills. These include the ability to communicate effectively and think logically and critically so that informed decisions can be made, and problems solved.
It is not enough to just focus on creating jobs. South Africa needs more meaningful employment opportunities. These jobs provide financial support. They also foster human dignity; empower individuals to develop their agency and skills; and teach the means to shape lives. The skills and knowledge gained when performing this type of work also uplift communities.
Moreover, quality jobs foster inclusive growth. In South Africa, the top 20% of the population holds more than 68% of income. This is compared to a median of 47% for similar emerging markets. Meanwhile, the bottom 40% of the population holds 7% of income. This is compared to 16% for other emerging markets. Similar trends can be observed across other measures, such as the income share of the top 1%. Refer to https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/01/29/na012820six-charts-on-south-africas-persistent-and-multi-faceted-inequality.
Quality jobs also facilitate long-term human capital accumulation. Furthermore, they help to ensure physical and psychological health. They also allow young adults to live productive and meaningful lives well into their older years.
In contrast, young people who take longer to find decent employment are likely to gather fewer skills than those who begin on the job learning at an earlier age. The corresponding reduction in human capital can result in lower earnings throughout their working lives. Long-term unemployment or underemployment can further erode skills and attachment to the workforce. This leads to skills depreciation; lower earnings; and, sometimes, even exit from the workforce altogether.
An ABET leader
Triple E Training is an ABET or AET leader. We continue to set the benchmark in adult literacy training and adult numeracy training for both community and workplace skills development.
Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, said, “the foundation of every state is the education of its youth.” We agree!
Triple E Training continues to play a very prominent role in educating young adults in the workplace so that they can achieve their true potential. This is in addition to our community training initiatives that are imparting employable skills to many young NEETs. Our clients are extending the reach of our quality ABET or AET to some of the most remote areas of the country. This is considering their vast geographical footprints, and we travel to where we are needed – no matter how remote the community or operation. Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality ABET or AET. www.eee.co.za
