Celebrating Excellence in Adult Education

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will tonight be celebrating the achievement of excellence of adult learners as well as public adult learning centres in both the ABET level 4 assessment and Senior Certificate examinations of 2005.

The awards function, the second since 2004, will commence from 19h00 (7pm) at the Cape Teacher's Institute, Nooiensfontein Road in Kuilsriver.

The ABET Level 4 assessment is a national assessment that draws on participation by public adult centres, the departments of Correctional Services, several government departments, and the Cape Town City Council. Some schools of skill and youth centres also participate in the assessment.

ABET Level 4 is placed on the first rung of the NQF (equivalent to grade 9 school level) and is an important step towards ensuring that persons who have been unable to obtain a formal qualification or basic education in the past, can access the NQF and continue their learning.

This is in keeping with the concept of lifelong learning and is especially important as the Bill of Rights list the Right of everyone to basic education including adult basic education.

Said Education MEC Cameron Dugmore: "In terms of our Human Capital Development Strategy, it is important that more people have access to higher education and thus it is vital that previously disadvantaged people are afforded opportunities to gain access to formalised general education.

"Also, the Western Cape government's vision of a Home for All is important in ABET where most, if not all, learners are from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. The need to encourage, motivate and reward achieving learners and centres is at the forefront of this awards function.

"The WCED also offers opportunities for thousands of adults to gain further education in terms of achieving a Senior Certificate.

"Last year was a significant year for Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) in the Western Cape. We had more learners writing the ABET level 4 examinations, as well as a higher percentage of registered learners writing the examinations than ever before.

"Fifty years had passed since the call for the 'doors of learning and culture to be opened' was made and we still heed this call within the realm of adult education today. This is not only a government priority but should be important to business, communities and the individuals themselves.

In his State of the Nation Address, President Thabo Mbeki has called on us to 'move faster to address the challenges of poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation confronting those caught within the Second Economy, to ensure that the poor in our country share in our growing prosperity'

Premier Ebrahim Rasool, in his State of the Province Address said there are signs 'that we are indeed on the threshold of prosperity. But the prosperity has to be shared by all, otherwise it will not be sustainable.'

And therefore our Human Capital Development Strategy document acknowledges that our current throughput rate in both basic and further education at adult centres is poor, and we aim to change this through offering more appropriate programmes and through improved delivery mechanisms.

"I want to salute all those learners for their perseverance, effort and courage in writing the examinations and promoting lifelong learning. We also are appreciative of employers that observe basic rights in giving learners time off to write the examinations."

"We call on all employers to observe this basic right to be allowed the opportunity to write examinations for courses that one has worked so hard toward. Promoting ABET among employees will not only be beneficial for the learner themselves but also to their families and employers."

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi 082 550 3938.

Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za