The relationship between adult basic education and training (ABET) and work opportunities

[摘要] A national education policy proposal to integrate adult basic education and training(ABET) in South Africa came about largely because of pressure from trade unions tointroduce training at the workplace which would make workers more marketable in caseof retrenchment. Workplace ABET programmes provide literacy and numeracy skills,after which some workers have a chance of joining further training opportunities providedby their employers. The Independent examinations Board (JEB) provides adultexaminations and certifies those learners who pass. This study aims to find out whetherthe ABET certificates issued by the IBB, particularly Level 3 certificates, open up jobopportunities for their holders.A qualitative approach was adopted to research the views of ABET learners and theirmanagers. A small scale survey was undertaken in which four industries providing ABETin the Gauteng area were visited. Interviews were conducted to access information onlearners’ and managers’ views on ABET certification. This proved a suitable method forthe study because the researcher managed to build confidence in learners and at timesused the learners’ home language to clarify questions.The study concludes that ABET empowered learners by giving them reading, writing andcommunication skills. These skills helped them in building their confidence whencommunicating with their supervisors and to work with less supervision. On the otherhand the study showed that there was no direct relationship between the certificates thatlearners earned and work opportunities. Managers could not clearly identify the kind ofwork that learner who had attained ABET Level 3 certificates could perform.The recommendations call for a clear' policy by both unions and employers on ABET.Workers need to be rewarded for the effort they put into learning, even if the rewards arenot the reasons which lead them to learn.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand