Western Cape rewards the Province’s top adult learners

The Acting Head of Education - Mr John Lyners, District Directors and officials responsible for ABET Curriculum and ABET Institutional Management and Governance, ABET Board Members, ABET Partners: Officials from Department of Correctional Services, Adult Learning Forum, Transport and Public Works, Social Development, Community Safety, Health, and Unions, ABET Centre Managers, Teachers and Learners, Ladies and Gentlemen,  

Good evening to you all. I am delighted to be here to celebrate the achievements of our ABET learners and centres in the 2012 ABET Level 4 examinations. This is the last of our big award ceremonies at the start of each school year. I have been present at the NSC awards, the FET awards and the Language and Mathematics Awards over the last few weeks and it seems appropriate to be closing with our adult learners! It has been a rewarding period for us in the WCED following the results we have achieved in all areas. Tonight will be no different. In the language and mathematics tests for Grade 3, 6 and 9 we have seen improvements in every Grade tested, in the NSC we saw the highest number of passes and learners qualifying for Bachelor Degree study; and, achieved the highest percentage pass rates in both Mathematics and Physical Science. We also saw the number of underperforming schools decrease further. In the FET exams we surpassed all of the Department of Higher Education’s targets for 2012. In each of these areas I have seen and met some amazing candidates, educators and principals who have done this province proud and tonight I get to meet some more. I have always said and strongly believe that learning is a lifelong commitment, and we are proud of our adult learners who have made use of the opportunities that are on offer by the WCED through our Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) centres, and whose achievements we will rightly celebrate tonight.   For many adult learners, the 113 adult learning centres we have in this province have become an integral part of their communities. Here adults can obtain their General Education and Training Certificate (GETC): ABET qualification, which allows adult learners the opportunity to access further education and training, career development and employment opportunities. This enables our adult learners to contribute positively to the development of their community and the Western Cape economy. There is certainly growth in the adult learning area. In the 2012 examinations we saw an increase in the numbers registering to write the ABET exams. A total of 3 987 candidates registered for one or more learning areas compared to the 3 343 candidates in 2011. The number of learning area entries also increased. In 2012, there was a total of 16 987 learning area entries, compared to 14 149 in 2011 and 9 551 in 2010. I am pleased that the most popular learning areas for our adult learners include Mathematical Literacy, and Languages - two areas that this Government is determined to improve and promote. Travel and Tourism was also a popular subject. Tourism is a key area for the Western Cape economy, therefore an area in which we need skilled labour. In the final results, candidates performed exceptionally well in the two new learning areas introduced this year - Information and Communication Technology (85%) and Early Childhood Development (94.7%). The pass rate in Life Orientation increased from 71.1% in 2011 to 81.1% in 2012. In the November examinations candidates sat down to write 12 234 learning areas. I am delighted that in 2012 we achieved the highest number of learning area passes, with 7 677 learning area passes compared to 6 762 in 2011 and 5 451 in 2010. Therefore 915 more learning area passes were achieved by candidates than in the previous year - opening up further opportunities for these adult learners. Many of these candidates have achieved these results in very difficult conditions. With examinations such as this, which are in the area of adult basic education, adult learners are not subject to a compulsory and structured programme as we have in our public schools. Attendance is not compulsory or monitored and learners are required to do a significant amount of work by themselves, because many of them have to prioritise other work or family commitments before their studies. So I would like to congratulate each and every candidate who passed, especially those people who we will celebrate tonight. A very warm welcome back to our eldest candidate - 80 year old Mr Lindele Malgas, who achieved passes in three learning areas. I would like to congratulate the family of the late Regien Vissies, who was the oldest candidate to obtain a full GETC at one sitting in 2012. Unfortunately she passed away in January this year at the age of 59 years. Her family can certainly be proud of her achievements. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the individual ABET centres which have achieved great success. You have provided such encouragement, hope and opportunities to so many adult learners that pass through your doors each day. Centres like Elsies River CLC, which registered more than 47 candidates in six learning areas, with a pass rate of more than 90% in 4 learning areas and Goodwood Correctional Services with a 100% pass rate in four of their six learning areas. The B.E.S.T. centre in Salt River increased their number of candidates from 126 in 2010 to 237 in 2012 with a pass rate of above 90%. I sincerely hope that all these centres and the candidates present here tonight will continue to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them by this government and that many doors will open to a brighter future as a result of their hard work and commitment.   By providing adult education and training opportunities we are making the lives of our adult citizens Better Together.

List of ABET Level 4 Award Winners for 2012.

Media Enquiries:  Bronagh Casey Spokesperson for Minister Donald Grant Ministry for Education Tel: 021 467 2377 Cell: 072 7241422 Fax: 021 425 3616 E-mail: Bronagh.casey@westerncape.gov.za