The role of the facilitator in implementing an adult basic education and training (ABET) programme in a rural area in the Southern Cape

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is estimated that some 12,5 to 15 million adults in South Africa have had little or noeducation. Since the first democratic elections in April 1994 the political, economicaland social context in South Africa is in the process of transformation. In order to copewith this transformation phase, South Africa is creating structures where the culture ofevery citizen, irrespective of class, race or gender is acknowledged and respected. Oneof these structures is the provision of basic education to all South African adults whohave historically been deprived of education and training.The changing political situation in South Africa has inevitably influenced the conceptof what literacy is for and how it should be taught. This inevitably affects the roleperformance of facilitators (educators of adults) at grass roots level. Recent policydevelopments place heavy demands on facilitators without adequately considering thenecessary inputs needed to cope with these demands. The purpose of this study istherefore to make a meaningful contribution to the understanding of the challengingand important role of the facilitator in ABET.A qualitative approach which provided a clear description of the roles facilitators arecurrently performing in a rural area in the Southern Cape was chosen. This revealedthe factors having an impact on the role performances of a facilitator.This study revealed the following:• In keeping with international trends the teacher's role in adult basic education inSouth Africa has been redefined as that of a facilitator of learning.• The attitudes adopted by the literacy organization can directly influence theteaching approach adopted by facilitators during classroom practice.• Facilitators need to exhibit flexibility when using different teaching styles duringclassroom practice.• Training objectives should encompass the different learning and teaching styles offacilitators.In order to enable facilitators to perform their multiple roles in ABET the preparationand continuing support of facilitators at grass roots level is crucial, especially if ABETis to make a meaningful contribution towards solving the adult literacy problems asexperienced in South Africa and to prevent littering the South African landscape withthe debris of failed projects

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University