Millions of South African adults are still functionally illiterate or have very low literacy and numeracy levels — a legacy of apartheid education policies that continues to constrain individual potential, workplace productivity, and full civic participation. Adult Literacy Teachers are the professionals who work directly with these adults to develop the reading, writing, and numeracy skills that unlock new possibilities in every area of their lives. The Adult Literacy Teacher qualification at NQF Level 5 equips learners with the specialist knowledge and pedagogical skills to do this important work effectively.
The curriculum covers the theory and practice of adult literacy education: understanding adult learning principles and how they differ from child learning, applying literacy and language development theory in adult teaching contexts, designing and facilitating adult literacy and numeracy learning programmes, assessing adult learner progress and adapting instruction accordingly, creating supportive and dignifying learning environments for adults who may feel shame or anxiety about their literacy levels, using a variety of teaching methodologies appropriate for adult learners with different backgrounds and learning styles, and contributing to national and organisational adult literacy programmes.
