Statement by Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) launched a new policy today (2 December 2004) to assist employees of the Provincial Government who wish to complete their schooling.

The WCED’s Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) sub-directorate prepared the Transversal Policy for ABET Delivery in collaboration with other provincial government departments.

The primary aim of the policy is to ensure that provincial departments use the same approach to adult education and training, to ensure a consistent service to all relevant employees.

The policy forms part of a broader, draft Human Resource Strategy for the province. The provincial government has identified the WCED as the lead department for driving this strategy.

As a learning organisation, we should set an example by providing a learning home for all our employees, as well as the learners in our classrooms.

Our new transversal policy seeks to assist employees who wish to complete their schooling by ensuring well-integrated support, with clear guidelines on the roles that each player should play.

The policy looks at the background and the partners involved, and then at each phase involved in providing Adult Basic and Further Education and Training (ABET/AFET) to employees of the provincial government.

About 2 100 employees are currently participating in adult education and training programmes sponsored by provincial government programmes. Our learners receive their tuition at community learning centres in different parts of the Western Cape.

The policy is intended for all employees who are 16 years of age or older who wish to obtain General Education and Training Certificate, a Senior Certificate, or a Further Education and Training Certificate.

The phases involved in implementing the policy include

• Identifying clients, by way of needs analyses;
• Determining appropriate adult education models;
• Establishing costs;
• Establishing lines of communication; and
• Clarifying roles of all concerned, using extensive checklists provided in the policy document.

The policy also provides guidance on:

• Implementing relevant programmes;
• Monitoring, evaluation and advocacy; and
• Invoicing and administration.

About 30 000 adult learners are currently enrolled for ABET and AFET courses in the Western Cape. Our draft HRD strategy plan makes provision for 2 500 new ABET learners per year. We hope to reach about 350 000 ABET learners by 2020.

This is an ambitious project, given our limited budget, and the demands of education in general. However, we have to provide a second chance to adults who wish to complete their schooling, including employees of the provincial government.

Provincial government departments will work collaboratively on assisting our employees on obtaining ABET and AFET qualifications where necessary. We will also encourage other partners in the private and public sectors to do the same.