Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society and a building block of development, an essential complement to investment in roads, dams, clinics, and factories.

Literacy is a platform for democratisation, and an agent of family health. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is a basic human right. Literacy is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, women and child can realise his or her full potential.

Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
of the United Nations

What is Adult Learners' Week?

Adult Learners' Week is a global advocacy campaign that aims to promote a culture of lifelong learning and enable people from all walks of life to develop their full potential.

The campaign aims to encourage all South Africans to further their education and to celebrate the achievements of those who have already taken up the challenge of lifelong learning.

From 5-11 September 2005, a multitude of local celebrations and special events at adult learning centres throughout the country culminate in Provincial and National Award Ceremonies that showcase innovative programmes and acknowledge the achievements of exceptional learners and educators.

Aims and objectives

From its inception 10 years ago, Adult Learners' Week has grown from strength to strength to become the highlight of the adult education calendar. This national campaign provides an opportunity for us to:

• promote a culture of lifelong learning, personal and professional growth amongst all South Africans
  
  
• acknowledge the importance of adult education in developing our human resource potential
  
  
• reflect on (and respond to) the challenges facing an estimated 15 million South Africans who are functionally illiterate
  
  
• celebrate the commitment and achievements of adult learners and educators throughout South Africa.
  
  
• build effective partnerships between the state, business and civil society, and
  
  
• mobilize the funds and resources needed to facilitate an integrated approach to adult learning and development.

Motivation

Rising to the challenge

Imagine what it must feel
like to be unable to read
a letter from a loved one,
to sign your name, to read
the Bible, to check your
pay slip, to read a story
to your children…
Being illiterate limits
the decisions and choices
that people can make on
a daily basis. It also
limits access jobs and
full participation in society.

Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane,
Archibishop of Cape Town

Nearly 50 years have passed since the Freedom Charter first called for the doors of learning and culture to be opened! Today, this call for free access to education is entrenched in our Constitution. Yet, less than 2% of provincial and national education budgets are allocated to adult education.

1 in every 6 adult South Africans cannot read or write; and a further 1 in 3 lack the literacy and numeracy skills they need to function effectively in society.

Towards a culture of lifelong learning

Adult education and training is increasingly recognised as the driving force behind economic and social development and this has precipitated a growing international trend towards the development of learning societies that are better equipped to compete on global markets.

While literacy is an important index of economic development, adult education extends far beyond the first steps of learning to read and write. We continue to learn and grow throughout our lives - in the workplace, in our homes and in our communities. Adult education embraces a diverse range of learning experiences including learnerships in industry; community-based training programmes led by NGO's and further degrees and diplomas offered by institutions of higher learning.

Adult learning acts as a catalyst for growth. It equips adults with the skills and confidence to participate meaningfully in community life and in the process it facilitates the growth of a vibrant economy and democratic society.

This Adult Learners' Week, we call upon the state, business and civil society to actively invest in adult education and make learning opportunities accessible to all South Africans. For, it is only by investing in our people that South Africa will realise its potential.

For more information about ALW

Click on the following links:

• Programme of Events 2005
• Award winning profiles 2004
• Award winning profiles 2003
• Highlights of ALW - 2004
• Highlights of ALW - 2003
• Highlights of ALW - 2002
• History of Adult Learners' Week

or contact Farrell Hunter on (021) 447 4828 or aln-national@iafrica.com