Adult training as a way out of the poverty trap

It is no secret that the South African school system is failing its most basic mission: giving to all the children the tools they will need to lead a better life and find a job. Whereas education should provide a way out of the poverty trap, it has been proven that students coming from poorer communities start disadvantaged compared to those from a higher socioeconomic background. This is still the case, more than 25 years after the end of apartheid and the dividing education system it has created.

Hopefully, there are alternative solutions to the unequal South African public school system. One of those solutions lies in adult training, which can offer a second opportunity to adults from disadvantaged communities to gain new skills, and improve their knowledge. Not only can adult training help people find a job, but it will also enable them to get promotions and further improve their living conditions. Financial matters aside, adult learning also allows personal growth and gives people confidence. Trainees also develop their social networks, which can lead to new opportunities, and create new friendships.

However, barriers to adult learning remain. In their Global Report on Adult Learning and Education, UNESCO experts count three obstacles to lifelong training. First, the personal situation of a person. Second, the institutions preventing someone from enrolling in a learning programme. And third, a person’s own dispositions and attitude toward learning.

Let’s focus on the first barrier pointed out by the report. Adults often have more responsibilities and need to provide for their families. In this case, going to work to earn a living and put food on the table makes more sense than going to training, which will be seen in the short-term as a waste of time. Aside from a lack of time and financial preoccupation, distance from a training centre can also be an issue in disadvantaged communities as not every household has a car and other transport means are often too expensive.

To overcome these obstacles, UNESCO experts recommend creating appropriate financial support for marginalised groups. This is where Vollar enters the stage. Vollar is a digital monetary incentive designed to motivate people to achieve individual goals. In this case, to attend adult training. The incentive has real monetary value and can be spent in local stores. In 2019, Vollar partnered with the Balwin Foundation to find a solution to irregular attendance in the training programs the company was running. The trainees participated in classes to help them “better run a business and understand the tendering process”, as recalls Riccardo, a 45-year-old plumber and technician from Eerste River, South Africa. In his opinion, “Vollar was a huge help, especially for those less fortunate and facing financial challenges.” Indeed, trainees would gain “Vollars” whenever completing the necessary milestones (showing up to class, doing their homework, passing a test, etc.). “This was a great incentive, says Riccardo. It eliminated the worry of food and the students could focus on their lessons instead.”

For more information on Vollar, check out our website
http://vollar.org