BEKA Schréder, a leading local manufacturer of luminaires and glass-fibre reinforced poles, continues to invest in quality adult basic education and training (ABET). This focus transcends merely equipping employees with the fundamental skills that they need to excel inside and outside the workplace. It also includes members of poor communities that reside within the company’s operational footprint.
With its state-of-the-art factory based in Olifantsfontein, BEKA Schréder’s ABET programmes, therefore, also reach Thembisa.
BEKA Schréder has been providing adult literacy and numeracy training to communities for the past five years as part of its corporate-social investment responsibilities. Considering the importance of ABET to the company, it outsources the provision of workplace and community adult literacy and numeracy training to an expert in the field. Triple E Training has a more than 30-year-long track record supplying quality ABET to industry. Over this period, Triple E Training has equipped many thousands of individuals with the basic skills that they need to function effectively in all aspects of life.
Bafana Mahesu, Human Resources and Industrial Relations Officer of BEKA Schréder, says that the company’s ABET programmes are always a resounding success.
“Among the measurables that we use to gauge the success of our ABET programmes are attendance by and the progression rate of learners through the various levels. This means that they are coping with the training and find it stimulating and relevant,” Mahesu says.
The current ABET programme has enrolled 18 young women and two men. They responded to an invitation from BEKA Schréder to participate in the multi-level ABET programme that was specifically geared at individuals with varying literacy skills levels. The training sessions are being held at the Royal House International Church which was made available for these purposes by Pastor WTM Dlalisa.
It was especially important to BEKA Schréder that young women from the community partake in the programme. This is considering the large impact that empowering women with literacy skills can have on families, communities, and societies at large. Equipped with sound literacy skills, they can act about their lives and participate in self-enriching goals. Moreover, women can seek opportunities that enable them to live up to their potential.
The training is being facilitated by Kevin Hashath and Bhekisani Ndlovu, both of whom have extensive experience teaching literacy and numeracy skills to adults. Ndlovu says that he is proud of all the learners who are participating in the ABET programme. “Attendance has been high, and the learners are very motivated to complete their training. Moreover, they are passionate about acquiring knowledge, which sets them on a path of lifelong learning. Through word of mouth, other community members will also learn more about this initiative and possibly want to participate the next time round. This has certainly been the case in other townships where we have held adult literacy and numeracy training. We are usually overwhelmed with requests to participate following the first few classes. In this way, learners become ‘ABET ambassadors’,” Ndlovu says.
Hashath says that three important factors underpin all successful ABET programmes. They include a placement assessment; an awareness campaign; and the quality of instruction that learners receive from an accredited ABET provider.
“A placement assessment determines the literacy and numeracy skills levels of individuals so that they can be placed at the correct ABET level. This ensures that they will cope with the course content and are stimulated during training sessions. An awareness campaign explains the importance and relevance of literacy and numeracy training to participants before they start learning. This motivates them to want to succeed, no matter how challenging they may find the course. Only facilitators who have experience teaching and motivating adults should provide training. They also need to respect learners by always being punctual and well prepared for class,” he concludes.
