Polokwane - The Limpopo Department of Agriculture has embarked on a drive to encourage all its illiterate employees, most of whom are general workers such cleaners, gardeners and tea makers, to learn how to read.
According to the department's senior manager for human resource development, Ennes Mkhavele, its Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) programme has proved successful since its inception four years ago.
"We have 132 of just more than 200 qualifying employees who are already registered for ABET programmes. Most of them are illiterate and it is really amazing to see how this initiative has changed their lives. Many of them can now sign their names instead of making a cross, and some can read forms that are written in English," he said.
According to Mkhavele, the students who take the programme through to level 4, which is equivalent to the National Qualifications Framework's (NQF) level 1 or Grade 9, see the most significant progress because it enables them to enrol at FET colleges for certificate or diploma programmes.
"Already this year, 34 people have received their level 4 certificates. Most of them are general workers and, if they could further their studies at an FET college, it would enable them to apply for various vacancies available in government and elsewhere," said Mkhavele.
One person who has experienced this achievement is Mosala Molomo, who said the ABET initiative had changed his life from "nothing to something".
"I joined the department in 1993 as a general worker and worked as an office assistant. Four years later I completed my ABET level 4. In 2008, the department offered me a learnership to enrol as an IT technician student at the Capricorn FET College in Polokwane and I got my NQF level 4 national certificate last year. Now I am working as an IT technician in the department's head office," said Molomo.
He added that he would recommend the programme to anyone. "It really is never too late to learn and I am not going to stop improving myself."
Another employee who has benefited from ABET is Idah Mpenyana from Polokwane, who works as a cleaner in the Mopane district offices.
"ABET has made me open my eyes. Now I can write my own CV, I can complete forms on my own, and I can draw money at any ATM instead of asking the security guards to help me," said the mother of four, who dropped out of school after Grade 6 to work on a farm to help support her poverty-stricken family.
She encouraged other workers to take the opportunity to improve their skills through ABET.
"Many people who are illiterate missed the opportunity to study when they were young, This is our second chance in life. We need to capitalise on it and set a good example to those who think it is too late learn."
