Adult Learning Network
National Conference 2003

The second conference of the ALN was hosted in Bloemfontein during Adult Learners’ Week (ALW) from the
4-5 September, followed by the national ALW awards ceremony on the 6 September. The theme of the conference was “Literacy, Learning and a Voice for All” suggesting that through the provision of literacy and learning programmes, people are given a voice and can play a more meaningful role in society.

Despite the fact that our appeal for funding and resources was largely ignored by a number of potential partners, institutions and government departments who have a stake in supporting adult literacy and basic education in our country, we nonetheless managed to meet our objective and hosted a successful conference and national awards ceremony.

Participants

The conference was attended by more than 250 participants from all the ALN provincial structures as well as a range of other organizations, including the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Project Literacy (Prolit), Services SETA (SETA) and Chemical SETA (CHIETA), Spoornet, the Institute for International Co-operation of the German Adult Education Association (IIZ/DVV), Council for Quality Assurance for General and Further Education (UMALUSI), Adult Literacy, Basic Education and Development (ALBED) Foundation and representatives from various provincial Departments of Education and the National Department of Education. While we had a reasonable number of participants, due to the lack of funding, there were 50% less participants than in Kimberley last year.

The conference programme focused on a range of issues that are relevant to the adult literacy and basic education sector. In addition, it provided a platform for learners and educators from all parts of the country to share their experiences and workshop critical issues facing the sector. Also following inputs from various speakers on the frameworks for delivery of Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET), participants spoke of the realities they face on the ground and areas in which the system could be improved to better meet learning needs and expectations.

Reflecting on progress

The conference also reflected on the resolutions adopted at the first ALN Conference held in Kimberley during 2002. There was general agreement that the ALN was fulfilling its mandate and providing a much needed voice for the NGO sector in the area of adult basic education. The conference however noted that the slow progress in the provision of adult basic education and literacy in the country, continues to perpetuate adult basic education’s status as the marginalized sector in the education system.

The ALN was therefore mandated to continue to mobilize civil society towards ensuring that the constitutional right of adults to basic education is realized.
The ABET Act, although passed into law in 2000, has yet to realise its promise in improving the status and delivery of adult basic education. For this reason, many educators spoke at the conference of their frustrations with the education system and the need for recognition and the professionalisation of their jobs.

Neither SANLI nor the ABET system seem to have made much progress in addressing the needs of the millions of adults in South Africa who cannot read or write or who do not have a basic education. The census of 2001 confirm that little has changed since 1996 with a total of 8.5 million (or 1 in 3) adults who are functionally illiterate.

REFLECT Workshop

While REFLECT is not an entirely new approach, for many participants at the conference the exposure to the Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques - was certainly a first time experience. The approach draws on the theoretical foundations of Paolo Freire, the reknown Brazilian educator, and participants had hands-on experience of some of the participatory tools used to help learners analyse situations and engage with processes of social change.

Presentations

Certification
The CEO of UMALUSI, Dr Peliwe Lolwana, stressed the importance of ensuring learners are certified once they have achieved a GETC in order to improve access to employment opportunities, mainstream schooling and further studies. The first GETC for adult learners became available this year.

SETAs
Derek Peo from the CHIETA told the conference about the ABET learnerships that the CHIETA is rolling out through communities with the use of National Skills Fund and explained how SETAs work including funding criteria and the accreditation of providers.

HIV-AIDs Learnership
Wolfgang Leumer, Director of IIZ/DVV, explained how the ALN-AIDS Network - a project of the ALN (in partnership with the Trust for Community Outreach and Education (TCOE), the Comprehensive Health Care Trust (ChoiCe) and IIZ-DVV)
is moving towards delivering a training programme for community-based caregivers in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The project also aims to ensure that the training programme is formally accredited by SAQA and the relevant SETAs.

Global Campaign for Education (GCE)
Archie Mokonane, ALN Deputy Chairperson, reported on the key role that the ALN plays as a leading partner in GCE - South Africa. The highlight of this year’s campaign was the Week of Action from 6-11 April when the campaign attempted to break the world record for the Largest Simultaneous Lesson. This year, the campaign focussed on the importance of educating the girl-child. The ALN will continue to work with the GCE to ensure that we achieve the Education For All (EFA) objective of halving adult illiteracy by 2015

Resolutions

The resolutions adopted at the end of the conference, extended the mandate given to the ALN in 2002 and the many issues raised confirms that a challenging path lies ahead of us. I know that I speak for the entire leadership of the ALN in saying we will realize that without a struggle, it seems the constitutional right to adult basic education will not be realized

Resolution 1

Noting that:

• The majority of ABET learners are not informed or consulted with regards to developments in their centres pertaining to the curriculum framework and other policy issues impacting on their skills and knowledge acquisition.
  

This conference resolves:

• that adult learners should have access to relevant information and opportunities to interrogate and influence policy issues through the ALN and other structures;
  
• to promote the establishment of Adult Learner Representative Councils within local, provincial structures and national structures.
  

Resolution 2

Noting:

• the frustrations and concerns of adult practitioners regarding their conditions of service and professional status
  

This conference resolves to:

• engage with the DoE with regard to the recognition of practitioner qualifications including the recognition of prior learning (RPL)
  
• make input through the unions to accelerate the process towards finalizing conditions of service for adult learning practitioners
  

Resolution 3

Recognising

• the ongoing marginalisation of the adult education and training sector;
  
• the inherent weakness of the sector in galvanizing resources for effective delivery of quality adult education and training programmes; and
  
• the need to bring to reality the right to adult basic education as enshrined in our constitution;
  

This conference resolves to:

• mobilise civil society forces for the recognition of the right to adult basic education as enshrined in the Constitution.
  

Resolution 4

Noting:

• the concerns of the conference participants regarding the SANLI project operations and funding
  

This conference resolves to:

• initiate dialogue with the ministry of education to review the conceptualisation of the SANLI project
  

Resolution 5

Noting:

• the lack of coherent research in the adult learning field
  

This conference resolves to:

• seek funding for a major adult learning research project that would investigate alternative methods and approaches that would address the needs of learners and the community and explore their relevance within the South African policy framework
• connect this with the resolutions of the SADC Adult Literacy Basic Education Conference (PMB Natal)