Abstract
M.Ed.
Telkom responded to the call for development of employees by introducing Telkom's ABET programme. The Open learning group offered it. This programme was to cater for the illiterate and semi-illiterate Telkom employees at Oumashoop, one of Telkom's sections in Pretoria. Telkom employees were released from their duties in order to attend Telkom's ABET programme. The programme was hampered by the low enrollments and high dropout rate. In the literature review the following topics were discussed: the influence of initial education experience on participation in adult education programmes, participation and non-participation in adult education programmes, society's influence on participation in adult education, the attitudes of adults in educational programmes, motivation, and the barriers to participation. This study focused on the reasons for low enrolments and high dropout rate in Telkom's ABET programme. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who served as information cases. Qualitative interviews were used to collect data. Data was audio and video taped. The constant comparative method for data analysis was used. It involved the construction of categories, in which units of data were compared in order to identify recurring themes. The following categories served as the findings of this research: Lack of awareness, the level of initial education, the structure of the programme, age and multiple responsibilities. Participants didn't understand the significance of Telkom's ABET programme, for example, they felt that it is a waste of time for aged employees to enroll for Telkom's ABET programme. The fear to disclose their status of literacy also contributed to low enrolments and high dropout rates. Furthermore the structure of the programme was inconsistent. Age and multiple responsibilities were among the further barriers impending enrolments.