2003
Education For All - "Give me a change too. I would like to know how to read and write."
Adult Learners Week, organised in Swaziland on the last week of September 2003, has broadened the scope of the festival from adult
education to education for all age groups who are not in any education within the formal sector.
The organiser of ALW, Sebenta National Institute, sees an opportunity in non-formal education –
not only for adults, but also for children and youth who are currently out of school – for literacy.
By offering education for all Sebenta hopes to give a chance to every Swazi to obtain literacy and
to provide possibilities for continuing learning – and thereby creating a learning society.
The biggest problem of the Swazi society, HIV/AIDS, which was the theme of the ALW in 2002
(see below) stands as a barrier to an enhanced quality of life for large parts of the society.
The horrifying number of one third of the population being infected with HIV/AIDS is also resulting
in a growing number of children – of which many are orphans due to the epidemic – dropping out of
the formal education system. Lack of resources, the inability to pay school fees, and psychological
problems are common reasons
among the AIDS orphans for dropout from school or not even to enrol for classes.
On the other hand, education is seen as one
of the most effective means to ensure a future for these children and youth, and thus for the entire
society. The theme of the year was to create awareness amongst
Swazi people on the importance of the non-formal education sector in giving the younger
part of the society a chance for education.
During ALW, celebrations took place in all regions of Swaziland. The main event was held in a
region which is socio-economically one of the most depressed parts of the country. A workshop was
organised to debate the theme of the year, its relevance and solutions, with participants from all
educational sectors. The celebrations also included awards for successful and
"inspirational" learners,
whose stories were presented and will be later published. The new non-formal education
programme for children and youth was also presented and discussed in the public events of the ALW
celebrations.
2002
Due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in
Swaziland, where the infection rate is estimated being as high as 34% (2000) the
Adult Learners Week campaigns included education about HIV and AIDS; how to
care for people living with HIV and those with fully blown AIDS; how to live
with the virus, as well as, the dangers of HIV and AIDS. In the festival the
awareness was spread also through
speeches, poems, drama and music, of which the best ones were awarded. The
main organiser, Sebenta National Institute, is promoting functional literacy as
way towards confronting the growth of the decease. As stated by one of the
organisers, literate person does not only know about the dangers of HIV/AIDS,
but is also capable of gaining more information. Functional literacy is
considered equally effective in poverty abbreviation. The education programmes
offered by Sebenta have a strong emphasis on analytical skills with a link to
the challenges people meet in their everyday lives. The aim is to help learners
to read, comprehend, and to make up their own views and opinions. In this light
literacy does not only help people in finding new ways of improving their
quality of life through new ways of making their living, but is also laying
foundations for effective civil society. ALW in Swaziland is also promoting and
providing education for children, due to the large number of AIDS orphans not
capable of taking part in formal education. The Adult Learners
Week was celebrated in selected parts of the country with the greatest
challenges with unemployment, destruction caused by flood, and HIV/AIDS
infections. The main festivities were held at Shiselweni 1 Inkhudla on 3
October, with several significant guests, including members of the Royal Family,
and wide representation of the national press. ALW 2002 in Swaziland was
supported by UNESCO and the Swazi Ministry of Education.
Contact:
Updated 23 October 2003
Following the first Adult
Learners Week in Swaziland in the year 2000, the festival was carried
out in 2002 during the entire month of September, dedicated to the theme
of "Literacy can help understand the issues of HIV/AIDS". Beside
the presentation of awards for community leaders who have demonstrated
a particular involvement in adult learning issues and awards for "couples
committed to learning", an "Adult Learners Writers Competition"
formed the highlight of festival.
Thuli Dladla
Chief Executive Officer
Sebenta National Institute
P O Box 64
Mbabane
Swaziland
tel: +268-602 0348
fax +268-404 2729 / 404 5997
e-mail: motsa.thuli@swazi.net