Rural Adult Basic Education and Training : students' views on formal education drop-out

Abstract

The research report in this essay is concerned with the drop-out syndrome in ABET classrooms in the rural area of Thulamahashe. The essay contains four sections. In section 1 the contextual framework is described. In section 2, a literature review is used to trace the views on ABET dropout. This section also provides the contribution of ABET to community building. In sections 3 and 4 there is a report on how the study explored, by means of in-depth interviews and observations, the views on ABET dropouts in the lives of these adults. The study also recorded how they perceived their situation as 'drop-outs', and what they feel can be done in ABET centres. Evidence from the study suggests that they are victims of formal education drop-out, and are trapped in the past education system where rural education was given very little attention and support by the government of that time.