The national policy of adult education and training was introduced in 1996. The key objective of the policy is to create opportunities for the nation – adults in particular – to study. The majority of adults in the country cannot read and write and this policy created an opportunity for them to acquire these basic skills.
As an educator who is passionate at that, I decided there and then to start adult basic education and training (Abet) at the Piketberg Community Learning Centre, which is where I am based.
By doing that, I really ”opened the doors of learning” to illiterate and semi-literate in the surrounding area. A big challenge was to convince the elderly not to be ashamed of being illiterate, so we decided to embark on a drive to recruit and encourage them to enrol for adult classes.
For me this was a dream come true because, through adult literacy, we are able to empower our people and also help eradicate levels of illiteracy our country as a whole.
The directorate responsible for Abet in the Western Cape education department really worked hard to reach its goal of sustaining adult literacy in our province. Its commitment encourages me and also gives meaning to our slogan: ”It’s never too late to learn.”
I experienced many highlights during the 10 years of being involved in the adult literacy field. I remember one of our oldest learners at the age of 77 in 1998: we called her ”Ouma Fortuin”. She could not read and write when she joined us, but within a year she was able to write the exams under the Independent Examination Board and passed with a merit.
Unfortunately she passed away not long after she achieved the skill of reading and writing. Her goal and major motivation to join us was so that she could read one of her favourite books, the Bible.
How can I forget Hendriena Adams who registered as a level-three learner and proceeded to obtain her matric certificate at our centre? She was one of our many committed learners, because she joined the learning centre to motivate her illiterate mother, Aunty Maria, to learn to read and write.
I can write many success stories of the thousands of learners who went through the system at our learning centre. It tickles and gratifies me to go to bed knowing that we got it right by bringing light into the dark world of our adult learners who couldn’t read and write before they joined us.
Parents and grandparents testify that since they have been to our centre, they feel empowered and can now help their children and grandchildren with their schoolwork.
We render our services to more than 200 adult learners within the general education and training band in Piketberg and the surrounding farms. Hundreds of learners went through our FET band and obtained their matric certificates.
Under the umbrella of the Western Cape education department we give meaning to people’s lives. Our centre is well equipped and our doors are open to the community – not just for learning, but for support in general.
I represented our province during the 2007 National Teaching Awards and won in the adult education category. It really feels good to be acknowledged for services you render to the nation, knowing that you will get your medals one day for the work you have done.
Lilian van Louw is based at Piketberg Community Learning Centre in the Western Cape.