M.Ed. / The aim of this research was to explore African women's experience of their multiple role involvement while engaged in Adult Education and Training (ABET) programmes at the ABET centre in the Gauteng Province. I argue that African women in ABET have different experiences of their multiple roles to their Western counterparts, and for this reason, ABET providers should understand the experiences, needs and characteristics of African women in ABET in order to design flexible courses and give effective learner support. The research question that guided the research reported on in this essay is: What are the experiences of African women of their multiple role involvement while engaged in ABET? In the light of the above, qualitative research was conducted using personal interviews for data collection. Eight participants were purposefully selected by maximum variation sampling to represent the widest possible range of experience. They were interviewed in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of these experiences. The data gathered were then analysed and findings written up. The findings of this research indicate that rural African women have to balance the role of learner with that of worker, home maker, wife, mother, and communal worker. In addition, the entrenched system of patriarchy in many African societies denies rural women any form of personal support structure with women often encountering direct opposition to their attempts at selfimprovement. It is my contention that ABET programmes are not flexible enough to accommodate these multiple roles. The learner's responses in the interviews contain important suggestions on how to improve ABET programmes. The study concludes with the recommendation for ABET programmes.

This thesis investigates both the information needs of the identified communities of Damonsville and Onverwacht and the contents of the selected Afrikaans literacy ABET programmes in order to determine whether the contents addresses the identified information needs. Educators need to develop material that is relevant and appropriate, for example, content that addresses the information needs of the targeted learners. The results of this content analysis were aligned with the information needs assessments carried out in the communities of Onverwacht and Damonsville. These two communities were chosen because of their close proximity to Pretoria and the high level of illiteracy prevailing in these two mainly Afrikaans-speaking communities. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used in the study. Two communities of Damonsville and Onverwacht were chosen as data collection sites so as to reveal their information needs through the use of questionnaires. The data collected was analysed by using descriptive and statistical tabulation for quantitative and content analysis methods and then compared. The main research question of the study is, “What are the information needs of the Afrikaans pre-literate adult learners of both Damonsville and Onverwacht communities and how can the content of adult literacy training material be tailored to match the information requirements of the identified communities?”. From the data derived from empirical study conducted, a list of activities which serve as information needs of both communities was compiled and could then be used when designing instructional tutorials so as that the content could match the specified needs of the identified communities. From the content analysis of the three literacy programmes, findings have indicated that there exist no correlation between the information needs of the identified communities and the contents of the literacy programmes. The researcher argues this shortcoming as a major implication to instructional design. Based on the findings of a comparison between the content of the Afrikaans literacy programmes and the information needs of the people in Onverwacht and Damonsville, a learning programme in the form of two lesson plans were compiled in which the identified information needs of the learners determined the content. Recommendations for the improvement of the content of literacy programmes that could be used in future were also made. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Afrikaans / unrestricted

The study aimed at investigating the role played by ABET programmes in the development of rural black women in the Omusati Region. The study was to determine whether the ABET programmes that are provided in the area are offering relevant education that helps the women of the area in their development. The research findings indicated that the ABET programmes offered are not providing the relevant skills needed to develop the women participants. The programmes that are offered concentrate on literacy and numeracy, and it seem not to be very effective in making a difference to the women's lives. Women needs skills that can help them generate income to improve their living conditions. The study, in summary, established that the programmes offered by the ABET centres would be more effective if skills training is included to uplift and improve the lives of the participants on a social, economical as well as educational level. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)

The study aimed at investigating the role played by ABET programmes in the development of rural black women in the Omusati Region. The study was to determine whether the ABET programmes that are provided in the area are offering relevant education that helps the women of the area in their development. The research findings indicated that the ABET programmes offered are not providing the relevant skills needed to develop the women participants. The programmes that are offered concentrate on literacy and numeracy, and it seem not to be very effective in making a difference to the women's lives. Women needs skills that can help them generate income to improve their living conditions. The study, in summary, established that the programmes offered by the ABET centres would be more effective if skills training is included to uplift and improve the lives of the participants on a social, economical as well as educational level. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)