South
Africa's Adult Learners Week 2003 was organised on 1 - 8 September under the theme:
"Together we develop - Literacy, Learning and a Voice for All".
The motto is referring to the principles of the United Nations Literacy
Decade and promoting cooperation in developing adult education and
andvancing literacy and inclusion.
The main activities, conference and the central celebration of the Week took place in the Bloemfontein, Free State. The key organisers - the national Departments of Education and of Correctional Services, together with provincial authorities and actors, Project Literacy, ABCOR and the Adult Learning Network (ALN) - were setting up the framework for the Festival. Other partners and sponsors were also invited to make the ALW 2003 a true learning possibility for all. The highlights of the festival were the provincial and national awards for innovative projects as well as successful learners and providers. This year, also a photographing competition was organised, where the best pictures illustrating the diversity of Adult Learning were awarded.
2002
Adult Learners Week
in 2002 in South Africa took place in number of provinces, with the national
Adult Learners Week ceremony hosted in the Norther Cape, including a conference
of educators on 6-7 September. The slogan for 2002 was "Open the Doors
of Learning!"
From 2 August to 11 September, an advocacy campaign designed by the Department of Economic Affairs and embracing a large range of education providers and stakeholders was set up in the Western Cape, called the "Learning Cape Festival". It was meant to foster partnership building and to link adult learners week and similair campaigns for the promotion of lifelong learning. For more information look at: www.learningcape.org.za
Background...
Under the theme Learning
to Live, Work and Learn Together, the first adult learners' week was
organized in South Africa in 1996, the pioneer country to develop such
an activity in the African region and part of the coalition of UNESCO member
states to carry forward International Adult Learners' Week. Coordinated
by the Adult Educators and Trainers Association of South Africa (AETASA)
in partnership with several national and provincial organizations, the
week was conceived as a campaign that celebrates and promotes adult education
and training.
The week's objectives have been to develop a culture of lifelong learning and to highlight its significance for the communities, for society and economic progress, to raise the profile of adult learning and to move it into mainstream education policies and activities, and to amplify networking among government and non-governmental organizations, business, community projects and trade unions. Aside from granting awards and having the activities of the week largely covered by TV stations, press and by national and local radio stations, the distribution of thousands of posters to government, labour, business, community and non-governmental organizations has been part of the successful strategy to draw people's attention to the events.
In 1998, the main emphasis was placed on Go for Learning - Go for Life! A number of international guests from other African countries as well as from countries outside of the region attended a colloquium on Robben Island organized as part of the week to reflect on the follow-up of the International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA V) - including the promotion of adult learners' weeks as an international project. In 1999 Adult Learning - A Tribute to Life and a Key tot the African Century was chosen as the overall theme for adult learners' week in South Africa. While another national celebration was set up in September 2000, adult learners' week on 1 - 9 September 2001 only took place in the Western Cape province under the heading People for Learning - Learning for Growth.
Contact:
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Farrell Hunter
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Lin Helme
Adult Learning Forum
301 Victoria Centre
Victoria Street
Somerset West
South Africa 7130
abeshare@iafrica.com
| Updated 10 February 2004 |
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© UNESCO Institute for Education -
Feldbrunnenstr. 58, 20148 Hamburg, Germany |
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