Abstract
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.