Here is a brief outline of the latest news. Click on the items that interest you for the full story. You can also download back copies of Talking Adult Learning - official newsletter of the Adult Learning Network.

If you would like to share your news with our readers,
then write to us at info@aldsa.org

Adult Learners' Week : 5-11 September 2005

50 years have passed since the Freedom Charter first called on government to Open the Doors of Culture and Learning. This year's theme: Adult learning and Literacy for Sustainable Development focuses on the role of adult education in community development and poverty relief.

Find out more about this years programme of events and get inspired by some exceptional learners, educators and programmes as you read through our 2004 award winning profiles.

Equal work for equal pay

Conditions of service is to be a pressing issue that affects the livelihoods of many adult educators. We take a look at how a draft collective agreement between SADTU, NAPTOSA and the Department of Education hopes to transform working conditions for ABET educators.

Global Call to Action against Poverty

Wear a white band on 10 September to show your solidarity for an end to poverty.

On 10 September, ahead of the UN Summit, people across the world will demand that world leaders Wake-Up to Poverty as part of the Global Call to Action against Poverty. Thousands of people will hold breakfast meetings with politicians, all night vigils, rallies outside state buildings, jamborees, petitions and early morning press calls. World leaders will literally wake up to the voices of people demanding action to end poverty before they depart for the UN Summit in New York on 14 September. more...

Adult Learning Network news

Join the Adult Learning Network. Brochures and membership forms are available from your provincial coordinator. Read about the national conference that took place in during Adult Learners' Week and that will help shape our programme for 2005. Find out more about how you can get involved in the AIDS Learnership Network (ALN-AIDS) which has recently been registered as an accredited training provider by the Health and Welfare SETA.

Learning Cape Festival

The Learning Cape Festival celebrates lifelong learning as the driving force for development. In the words of Deputy Chairperson, Sedick Jappie: “Learning is seen as the foundation on which we can build the economy of the Western Cape and meet our commitments to social justice and empowerment.”

For more information visit www.learningcape.org

Launch of Centre for Open Learning

Resources

African Perspectives on Adult Education is a new, groundbreaking series designed for use in the training of African adult educators. The series places adult education firmly within the African context and foregrounds the importance of African philosophies, indigenous knowledge systems, traditions and cultures. The series is an initiative of IIZ-DVV, the UNESCO Insititute for Adult Education and the University of Botswana and is published by Pearson Education. The books cost R170 each.

The wise consumer
Building a culture of active citizenship is the cornerstone of a vibrant and healthy democracy. However, there is a big difference between having rights on a piece of paper and standing up for your rights in everyday life. The Wise Consumer will help you spend your money wisely and stand up for your rights as a consumer. It should be recommended reading for all South Africans.

Land is Life
Land is Life is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the roots of land issue. Published by the Trust for Community Outreach and Education, the book uses a compelling mix of text and photographs to trace how black South Africans were ruthlessly stripped of their land — from the bloody conquests of the colonial period through to politics of segregation and apartheid — before questioning why the pace of Land Reform in post-apartheid South Africa has been slow.

International developments

An international conference was hosted by the University of Botswana from 14th-16th June and focussed on the theme:
Adult Education and Poverty Reduction - A Global Priority.
Over 160 delegates, representing 45 countries, attended the conference including representatives of NGOs, donor agencies, governments and the academic community.

The conference aimed to encourage donors to support adult education programmes and showcased policy initiatives, programme strategies and research projects that could strengthen the role of adult education in poverty reduction. For a full list of conference papers, visit the conference website: www.aepr.co.bw.

REFLECT update

On 8th September The International Reflect Circle (CIRAC) received the UNESCO International Literacy Prize 2003 in recognition for the way in which the Reflect approach has revolutionised approaches to adult learning over the past 10 years. Inspired by Paulo Freire, Reflect is a participatory approach to community development, adult learning and social change, used by over 350 different organisations in 60 countries.

CIRAC also launched Communication and Power in parallel events around the world. Communication and Power is a ground-breaking set of practical resource materials on the Reflect approach, produced by CIRAC with contributions from over 100 organisations around the world.

Making sense of the statistics

Anne Harley helps us come to grips with the 2001 census.

John Aitchison helps us make sense of 2002 ABET level 4 results: