Issued by: Ministry of Education
7 September 1995
It is indeed pleasure that I announce today the release of the National Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) Framework : Interim Guidelines as national policy.
This is indeed a historic occasion in the development of Adult Basic Education and Training as an integral component within the overall education and training system in our country. It represents a major building block in the implementation of our overall human resource development strategy as set out in the Reconstruction and Development Programme.
These guidelines, which are a culmination of consultation and negotiations between the Department and a broad range of interested parties and organisations, aim to ensure that adult learners receive education and training of equal status and quality throughout the country.
The declaration of policy in this area is indeed a milestone as it will, for the first time, provide for the setting of national standards and improve the quality of educational provision in an area of education which has been on the periphery of our education system for so long.
These guidelines will serve as interim policy until such time as the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has been established and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) has been developed. They will enable the Department of Education and the National Stakeholders' Forum to assist ABET providers to restructure their curricula to promote adult learning that will achieve the learning outcomes contained within the national framework. These guidelines will be monitored during the implementation process and evaluated after a period of 12 months based on our collective experiences.
I am happy to announce today that, as this framework is now in place, we are able to allocate a total amount of R50 million from the 1995/96 budget for ABET. Through this investment of public funds in ABET, the Ministry of Education wants to assure the donor community that has previously assisted ABET that this is an area worth investing in - now and for the future. I encourage therefore the donor community to join us and other NGO's in this field to forge a constructive funding partnership for the development of ABET in this country.
The national and provincial Departments of Education and the stakeholders' forum will jointly develop an implementation plan for both the framework and the allocation of resources. My Ministry calls on all stakeholders to build on the progress to date in order to expand the provision and improve the quality of ABET in this country.
For further information contact Lincoln Mali at (021) 457 350 - 083 251 4044