With South Africa’s current unemployment rate in mind, strengthening foundational skills can help more people move into further learning and work opportunities. For employers, the value of foundational skills lies in the opportunities they unlock. Stefan Botha, CEO of Optimi Group, says they provide the base for further learning, greater responsibility at work and continued employee development.
“Many South African learners who leave school would benefit from stronger foundational skills,” says Botha. “These include literacy, numeracy, communication and problem-solving — skills that help people take on further learning and contribute at work.”
The College SA Adult Education and Training programme (AET) takes learners through the four levels of foundational skills development, helping them progress towards Grade 9 or General Education and Training Certificate (GETC) level.
Before training begins, learners are assessed to determine the right entry level. That means the programme starts with what they can already do in literacy and numeracy and builds from there.
For many learners, reaching GETC level is an important milestone. It can open the way to further study, including the Amended Senior Certificate (ASC), or Adult Matric.
Botha says foundational education can support workplace safety, day-to-day work and readiness for further training. Employees who can understand instructions, communicate clearly, solve problems and adapt to new processes are better placed to contribute and progress at work.
Strong foundational skills also make it easier for employees to take part in further technical or occupational training, helping organisations get more value from the money they invest in skills development.
For many adult learners, continued learning needs to fit around the realities of work and life, including work schedules, financial responsibilities, childcare and previous learning.
College SA’s AET approach supports this through both face-to-face and blended training, giving employers more options to match learning with workplace schedules, learner levels and day-to-day work requirements.
While digital skills, artisan training and entrepreneurship remain areas worth investing in, they can deliver greater value when learners have the foundational skills to access, apply and build on them. That is the role foundational learning plays: it gives employees a stronger base for further learning and development.
