What is Abet?
The term ABET refers to Adult Basic Education and Training and refers to education up to the equivalent of grade 9 (standard 7). ABET refers to both literacy and numeracy. Click here for more

Adult basic education and training or ABET has many challenges. Facilitators often have to encourage ABET learners and make them aware of the benefits of this form of learning. In this feature, ABET professionals, offer some good advice on motivating adult learners. ...more

Adult education specialists Media Works’ founder and managing director Jackie Carroll has been recognised as this year’s Top Woman Entrepreneur. Carroll, who started the business in her garage 14 years ago, received her award at the annual Top Women Awards ceremony. ...more

Over 600 000 South Africans, who could not previously read and write will be literate and numerate by the end of this year, through the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign. The campaign enables adult learners, at no cost to themselves, to read, write and calculate in their mother tongue and also to learn spoken English. ...more

The reduced production times in many manufacturing companies is making it harder for managers to release employees for training. Media Works and manufacturing Seta, Merseta, are working together to find solutions to ensure that skills development and training can continue to thrive. ...more

For most of her life Rose Ndzimande was one of the estimated 2.7 million illiterate adults in South Africa. This changed when in 2006 her employer, Albany Bakery in Germiston, announced the introduction of Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) for all interested employees. ...more

THETA and Media Works took a strategic decision in conjunction with Emperor's Palace to offer ABET training to all employees, permenet and contract. This has proved to be huge success as well as being popular. ...more

Media Works and Wits School of Adult Education have together launched Sign Adult Basic Education and Training materials, enabling deaf learners to work towards qualifying for the equivalent of Grade 9 and gaining decent employment. ...more

Eradicating illiteracy is one of South Africa’s biggest priorities. While legislation and government policy establish the required foundation for adult basic education and training (ABET), the number of illiterate and semi-literate workers currently in the labour force requires ongoing intensive interventions.

In alignment with this, the previous Minister for Education, Naledi Pandor, established the mass literacy campaign: Kha ri gude, which is Tshivenda for “let us learn”. The initiative is intended to offer literacy to 4.7 million adults between 2008 and the end of 2010, by hosting literacy classes in provinces nationwide.

The benefits of ABET training, as collected from feedback from more than 100 000 active learners trained by Media Works in recent years, include higher levels of self esteem, dignity and a better understanding of personal finances.

“Despite the number of adult learners who have successfully received ABET training since 1994, we have just scratched the surface in addressing the national education and training needs of our labour force,” says Media Works Managing Director, Jackie Carroll.

Comprised of outcomes based learning programmes, ABET aims to bring basic knowledge and skills, to equip the working adult for employment and provide participants with nationally registered qualifications.

Included in the four levels of ABET training - which are equivalent to school Grades R to 9, and for which credits can be earned on the National Qualifications Framework - are core courses such as language, basic literacy and communication, mathematical literacy, mathematics and mathematical sciences, natural science, arts and culture, life orientation, technology, human and social science and economic and management science.

Learners can also take elective education courses in small, medium and micro enterprises, tourism, agricultural science and ancillary health care.

Those who successfully complete ABET Level 4 will receive an NQF Level 1 qualification and are able to proceed to FET training or any NQF Level 2 programme.

For more information on adult literacy programs and abet training providers, view the Skills Portal Training Directory.