The training of ABET educators and educators-in -training in the Nebo-district of the Northern Province

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The proper training of Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) educators-in-trainingcould play an important role in the eradication of illiteracy in South Africa. ABET is a toolthat can be applied to redress the imbalances of the past. Proper training implies the real,effective and accredited training that would be recognized by the National QualificationsFramework (NQF). The way the training of ABET educators is presented is lacking someform of recognition from other institutions.The research was undertaken in the Native Employment Bureau Offices (NEBO) District ofthe Northern Province in South Africa during the period from July 1997 to August 1999. Thepurpose of the research was twofold. Firstly to establish whether the programmes that areused by the various institutions to train ABET educators in the NEBO district are effective.That is whether those people who had been trained as ABET educators can teach adultlearners in such a way that they are accepted by the learners and that there will be a decreasein the high numbers of illiterate people as a result of what ABET learners are taught.Secondly how suitable the people who are used to present these programmes are in relation towhat is required of ABET educators.A literature review was done to establish the ABET activities in both developed anddeveloping countries. In each of the countries the need and examples of the training of ABETeducators were looked at. It was found that the same problems were experienced. Under thedeveloped countries, Ireland was used as an example and for the developing countries SouthAfrica and Tanzania were studied. In South Africa three ABET training programmes werestudied and compared. These progammes are Project Literacy (PROUT), University of SouthAfrica (UNISA) ABET Institute and the Rural Enterprise Agricultural Project (REAP).Qualitative data was obtained by means of the interviews, observation and analysis ofexisting data from the governmental documents. The result of the qualitative data showed adifference among the four groups of ABET educators. The group that was trained by the pastPROUT, UNISA ABET and REAP programmes showed a higher level of understanding and empowerment in training the ABET learners. The present PROUT training programme wasnot so effective to train ABET educators-in-training.This research showed that the three ABET training programmes were producing differentkinds of ABET educators with different status. By status is meant the recognition of thetraining by means of a certificate or a diploma. The research also indicated that the trainers ofthe trainees did not implement all of the written materials.The most important recommendation is that the National ABET Directorate should integratethe three training methods for better eradication of illiteracy, by means of well recognizedtrained ABET educators. The value of the research was that one integrated ABET curriculumwas recommended that probably would be better for the achievement of the goals that are setby the National ABET Directorate.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University